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tihvavy  of  tire  trheolo^ical  ^tmimvy 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 
PRESENTED  BY 

Rufus  H.   LeFevre 

.52. A  \ 
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n 


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OKIG] 
DOCTRINE, 
CONSTITUTION  AND  DISCIPLINE, 

OF  THE 
/ 

UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST. 


DAYTON : 

PRINTED  AT  THE   PRINTINQ   ESTABLISHMENT    OF  THE    UNITED 
BRETHREN   IN   CHRIST. 

1859. 


Stereotyped 
At  the  U.  B.  Printing  EstaLHshmf-nt,  Dayton. 


ORIGIN 

OK   THE 

UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST. 


In  the  eighteenth  century  it  pleased  the 
Lord  our  God  to  awaken  persons  in  different 
parts  of  the  world,  who  should  raise  up 
the  Christian  religion  from  its  fallen  state, 
and  preach  the  gospel  of  Christ  crucified  in 
its  purity. 

About  the  middle  of  the  said  centur}^, 
the  Lord,  in  mercy,  remembered  the  Ger- 
mans in  America,  who,  living  scattered  in 
this  extensive  country,  had  but  seldom  an 
opportunity  to  hear  the  gospel  of  a  crucified 
Savior  preached  to  them  in  their  native 
language. 

Among  others,  he  raised  up  "William 
Otterbein  and  Maktin  Boehm,  in  the  state 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  Geoege  A.  Geeting 
in  the  state  of  Maryland — armed  them  with 
spirit,  grace,  and  strength,  to  labor  in  his 
neglected  vineyard,  and  to  call  among  the 
Germans  in  America,  sinners  to  repentance. 


4  UNITED    BRETHREN 

Tliese  men  obeyed  the  call  of  their  Lord 
and  Master;  their  labors  were  blest;  they 
established  in  many  places  excellent 
societies,  and  led  many  precious  souls  to 
Jesus  Christ.  Their  sphere  of  action  spread 
more  and  more,  so  that  they  found  it 
necessary  to  look  about  for  more  fallow- 
laborers  to  engage  in  the  vineyard  of  the 
Lord,  for  the  harvest  was  great  and  the 
laborers  but  few.  The  Lord  called  others, 
who  were  willing  to  devote  their  strength 
to  his  service;  such,  then,  were  accepted  by 
one  or  other  of  the  preachers  as  fellow- 
laborers. 

The  number  of  members  in  the  society 
in  diflerent  parts  of  the  country,  continued 
to  increase  from  time  to  time;  and  the 
gracious  work  of  reformation  spread  through 
the  states  of  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and 
Virginia.  Several  great  meetings  were 
appointed  and  held  annually ;  when  on 
such  occasions  Otterbein  would  hold  par- 
ticular conversations  with  the  preachers 
then  present,  represent  to  them  the  import- 
ance of  the  ministry,  and  the  necessity  of 
their  utmost  endeavors  to  save  souls.  At 
one  of  these  meetings,  it  was  resolved  to 
hold  a  conference  with  all  the  preachers,  in 
order  to  take  into  consideration  how,  and 
in  what  manner,  they  might  be  most  useful. 

The  first  Conference  was  held  in  the  City 
of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  in  the  year  of  our 


DISCIPLINE.  O 

Lord,  1789.     The  following  preachers  were 

present,  viz: 
Wm.  OttepvBein,         Adam  Leitman. 
Martin  Boehm,  John  Ernst, 

Geo.  a.  Geeting,        Henry  Weidner, 
Christian    Newcomer. 

The  second  Conference  was  held  in  Par- 
adise township,  York  county,  Pennsylvania, 
at  the  house  of  Br.  Spangler,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord,  1791.  The  following  preach- 
ers were  present,  viz : 

Wm.  Otterbein,  John  Ernst, 

Martin  Boeiim,  J.  G.  Pfrimmer, 

Geo.  a.  Geeting,        John  Neidig, 
Ch'n.  Newcomer,      Benedict  Sandp:rs5 
Adam  Lehman. 

After  mature  deliberation  how  they  might 
labor  most  usefully  in  the  vineyard  of  the 
Lord,  they  again  appointed  such  as  fellow- 
laborers  whom  they  had  cause  to  believe 
had  experienced  true  religion  in  their  own 
souls. 

In  the  meantime,  the  number  of  mem- 
bers continued  to  increase,  and  the  preach- 
ers were  obliged  to  appoint  an  Annual 
Conference,  in  order  to  unite  themselves 
more  closely,  and  to  labor  more  successfully 
in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord ;  for  some  had 
been  Presbyterians  or  German  Reformed ; 
some  Lutherans,  and  others  Menonites. 
They  accordingly  appointed   a   Conference 


6  UNITED    BRETHREN 

to  be  held  on  the  25th  of  September,  1800, 
in  Frederick  county.  Maryland,  at  the  house 
of  Bro.  FpwEdekick  Kemp.  The  following 
preachers  were  present,  viz : 

Wm.  Otterbein,  Christian  Krum, 

Martin  Boehm,  IIenry  Krum, 

Geo.  a.  Geetixg,  John  Hershey, 

Ch  -n.  Xewcomer,  Jacob  Geisingee, 

Adam  Lehman,  Henry  Boehm, 

Abraham  Tracksel,  Diet  k  Aurand, 
J.  G.  Ffrqimer. 

There  they  united  themselves  into  a 
Bocietv  which  bears  the  name,  "UNITED 
BEETHREN  IN  CHRIST,"  and  elected 
Wm.  Ottereein  and  Martin  Boekm,  as 
Superintendents  or  Bishops,  and  agreed  that 
each  of  them  shonld  be  at  liberty  as  to  the 
mode  and  manner  of  baptism,  to  perform 
it  according  to  his  ov/n  convictions. 

From  this  time,  the  society  increasing 
still  more  and  more,  preachers  were  ap- 
pointed to  travel  regularly,  inasmuch  as 
the  number  of  preaching  places  could  not 
otherwise  be  attended  to;  and  the  work 
spread  itself  into  the  states  of  Ohio  and 
Kentucky.  It  then  became  necessary  to 
appoint  a  Conference  in  the  state  of  Ohio, 
because  it  was  conceived  too  laborious  for 
the  preachers  who  labored  in  those  states 
to  travel  annually  such  a  great  distance  to 
conference. 


DISCIPLINE.  7 

In  the  meautiine,  Brothers  Boehm  and 
Geeting  died,  and  brother  Otterbein  desired 
that  another  bishop  should  be  elected  (be- 
canse  infirmity  and  old  age  would  not 
permit  liim  to  superintend  any  longer), 
who  should  take  charge  of  the  society,  and 
preserve  discipline  and  order.  It  was 
resolved  at  a  former  Conference,  that  when- 
ever one  of  the  bishops  died  another  should 
be  elected  in  his  place:  accordingly  brother 
Christian  Newcomer  was  elected  Bishop, 
to  take  charge  of,  and  superintend  the  con- 
cerns of  the  society. 

The  want  of  a  'DisGipUne  in  the  Society 
had  long  been  deeply  felt,  and  partial 
attempts  having  been  made  at  different 
times,  it  was  resolved  at  the  Conference 
held  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  that  a  general 
Conference  should  be  held  in  order  to 
accomplish  the  same,  in  a  manner  not 
derogatory  to  the  word  of  God.  The  mem- 
bers of  this  Conference  were  to  be  elected 
from  among  the  preachers  in  the  different 
parts  ol'  the  country,  by  a  vote  of  the 
society  in  general.  The  following  brethren 
were  duly  elected,  viz: 

Ch'n  Neavcomer,         Daniel  Troyer, 
Abr'm  Hiestand,         Geo.  Benedum, 
Andrew  Zeller,         Abr'm  Tracksel, 
Christian  Berger,      Henry  Gr.  Spayth, 
Abraham  Myer,         I.  Nighswanger, 
John  Schneider,        Christian  Krum, 
Henry  Kumleii,         Jacob  Bowlus. 


9  UNITED   BRETHREN 

The  Conference  convened  on  the  6th  of 
June,  1815,  near  Mount  Pleasant,  West- 
moreland county,  Pennsylvania.  After  ma- 
ture deliberation,  they  presented  to  their 
brethren  a  Discipline,  containing  the  doc- 
trine and  rales  of  the  church,  desiring  that 
they,  together  with  the  Word  of  God,  should 
be  strictly  observed. 

God  is  a  God  of  order,  but  where  there  is 
no  order  nor  church  Discipline,  the  spirit 
of  love  and  charity  will  be  lost. 

Therefore,  brethren,  we  beseech  you  to 
follow  the  example  of  our  Lord ;  as  it  is 
written,  "  Be  kindly  affectioned  one  to  an- 
other, with  brotherly  love ;  in  honor  pre- 
ferring one  another.  Let  the  mind  be  in 
you  which  was  in  Christ,  who  took  upon 
him  the  form  of  a  servant^  humbled  him- 
self, and  became  obedient  unto  death,  even 
the  death  of  the  cross,"  that  by  his  grace 
we  may  submit  ourselves  one  to  another  in 
the  fear  of  God.  He  who  will  not  submit 
is  in  want  of  humble  love.  Jesus  said, 
"  Whosoever  will  be  chief  among  you,  let 
him  be  your  servant.  By  this  shall  all 
men  know  that  ye  are  my  disciples,  if  ye 
have  love  one  to  another ;  and  whoso  lov- 
eth  not  his  brother  abideth  in  death."  Let 
us  walk  in  newness  of  life,  that  the  prayer 
of  our  Lord  may  be  answered  in  us :  that 
we  may  be  one  in  him,  and  that  he  may 
give  U-S  the  glory  which  he  gave  to  his  dis- 


DISCIPLINE.  9 

ciplc3,  that  we  may  be  one  even  as  He  and 
the  Father  are  one.  Therefore,  beloved 
brethren,  let  ns  strive  to  be  like-minded, 
having  the  same  love,  being  of  one  accord, 
of  one  mind.  Let  no  one  speak  or  think 
evil  of  his  brother,  but  pray  God  that  he 
may  grant  us  His  Spirit  and  an  earnest  de- 
sire to  lead  a  truly  devoted  life,  to  the  honor 
and  glory  of  his  Holy  name.     Amen. 


10  UNITED    BRETHREN 

SECTION   I. 
CONTESSIOJ^"  OF  FAITH. 

In  the  name  of  God  we  declare  and  con- 
fess before  all  men,  that  we  believe  in  the 
only  true  God,  the  Father,  the  Son  and  the 
Holy  Ghost,  that  these  three  are  one :  the 
Father  in  the  Son,  the  Son  in  the  Father, 
and  the  Holy  Ghost  equal  in  essence  or  be- 
ing with  both ;  that  this  triune  God  created 
the  heavens  and  the  earth,  and  all  that  in 
them  is,  visible  as  well  as  invisible,  and 
furthermore  sustains,  governs,  protects  and 
supports  the  same. 

We  believe  in  Jesus  Christ;  that  He  is 
very  God  and  man ;  that  be  became  incar- 
nate by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  the 
virgin  Mary,  and  was  born  of  her ;  that  he 
is  the  Savior  and  Mediator  of  the  whole 
human  race,  if  they  with  full  faith  in  him 
accept  the  grace  proffered  in  Jesus;  that 
this  Jesus  sufiered  and  died  on  the  cross 
for  us,  was  buried,  arose  again  on  the  third 
day,  ascended  into  heaven,  and  sitteth  on 
the  right  hand  of  God,  to  intercede  for  us ; 
and  that  he  shall  come  again  at  the  last 
day,  to  judge  the  quick  and  tlie  dead. 

We  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost ;  that  he 
is  equal  in  being  with  the  Father  and  tha 


DISCIPLINE.  11 

Son,  and  that  lie  comforts  the  faithful  and 
guides  them  into  all  truth. 

We  believe  in  a  holy  Christian  church, 
the  communion  of  saints,  the  resurrection 
of  the  body,  and  life  everlasting. 

We  believe  that  the  Holy  Bible,  Old  and 
ISTew  Testament,  is  the  word  of  God ;  that 
it  contains  the  only  true  way  to  our  salva- 
tion; that  every  true  Christian  is  bound  to 
acknowledge  and  recsivo  it  with  the  influ- 
ence of  the  Spirit  of  God,  as  the  only  rule 
and  guide;  and  that  without  faith  in  Jesus 
Christ,  true  repentance,  forgiveness  of  sins, 
and  following  after  Christ,  no  one  can  be  a 
tru'j  Christian. 

We  also  b.dieve  that  what  is  contained 
in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  to  wit:  the  fall  in 
Adam  and  redemption  through  Jesus  Christ, 
shall  be  preached  tiiroughout  the  world. 

We  believe  that  the  ordinances,  viz.:  bap- 
tism and  the  remembrance  of  the  sufterings 
and  death  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  are  to 
b3  in  use,  and  practiced  by  all  Christian  so- 
cieties ;  and  that  it  is  incumbent  on  all  the 
children  of  God  particularly  to  practice 
them ;  but  the  manner  in  which  ought  al- 
ways to  be  left  to  the  judgment  and  under- 
standing of  every  individual.  Also  the 
example  of  washing  feet  is  left  to  the  judg- 
ment of  every  one,  to  practice  or  not:  but 
it  is  not  becoming  for  any  of  our  preachers 
or  members  to  traduce  any  of  their  brethren 


12  UNITED    BRETHREN 

whose  judgment  and  understanding  in  these 
respects  is  different  from  their  own,  either  in 
public  or  private.  Whosoever  sliall  make 
himself  guilty  in  this  respect,  shall  be  con- 
sidered a  traducer  of  his  brethren,  and  shall 
be  answerable  for  the  same. 


SECTION  n. 

CONSTITUTIOJN". 

We,  the  members  of  the  Churcli  of  the 
UNITED  BRETHEElSr  IN  CHRIST,  in 
the  name  of  God,  do,  for  the  perfecting  of 
the  saints,  for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  for 
the  edilying  of  the  body  of  Christ,  as  well 
as  to  produce  and  secure  a  unilbrm  mode 
of  action,  in  faith  and  practice,  also  to  de- 
fine the  powders  and  the  business  of  Quar- 
terly, Annual  and  General  Conferences,  as 
recognized  by  this  church,  ordain  the  fol- 
lowing articles  of  CONSTITUTION. 

ARTICLE   I. 

Section  1.  All  ecclesiastical  power  herein 
granted,  to  make  or  repeal  any  rule  of  Dis- 
cipline, is  vested  in  a  General  Conference, 
wdiich  shall  consist  of  elders,  elected  by 
the  members  in  every  Conference  District 
throughout  the  Society ;  provided,  however, 


DISCIPLINE.  13 

Bucii  Elders  shall  have  stood  in  that  capacity 
three  years,  iu  the  Conference  District  to 
which  they  belong. 

Sec.  2.  General  Conference  is  to  be  held 
every  four  years  ;  the  Bishops  to  be  consid- 
ered members,  and  presiding  oJSicers. 

Sec.  3.  Each  Annual  Conference  shall 
place  before  the  society  the  names  of  all  the 
Elders  eligible  to  membership  in  the  Gen- 
eral Conference. 

ARTICLE  n. 

Section  1 .  The  General  Conference  shall 
define  the  boundaries  of  tlie  Annual  Con- 
ferences. 

Sec.  2.  The  General  Conference  shall,  at 
every  session,  elect  Bishops  from  among  the. 
elders  throughout  the  church,  who  have 
stood  six  years  in  that  capacity. 

Sec.  3.  The  business  of  each  Annual  Con- 
ference shall  be  done  strictly  according  to 
Discipline ;  and  any  Annual  Conference 
acting  contrary  thereunto,  shall,  by  im- 
peachmentj  be  tried  by  the  General  Confer- 
ence. 

Sec.  4.  ]^o  rule  or  ordinance  shall  at  any 
time  be  passed,  to  change  or  do  away  the 
Confession  of  faith  as  it  now  stands,  nor  to 
destroy  the  intinerant  plan. 

Sec.  5.  There  shall  no  rule  be  adopted 
that  will  infringe  upon  the  rights  of  any  as 


l4  UNITED    BRETHREN 

it  relates  to  the  mode  of  baptism,  the  sac- 
rament of  the  Lord's  supper,  or  the  wash- 
ing of  feet. 

Sec.  6.  There  shall  be  no  rule  made  that 
will  deprive  local  preachers  of  their  votes 
in  the  Annual  Conferences  to  which  they 
severally  belong. 

Sec.  7.  There  shall  be  no  connection  witli 
secret  combinations,  nor  shall  involuntary 
sei-vitude  be   tolerated  in  any  way. 

Sec.  8.  The  right  of  appeal  shall  be 
inviolate. 

ARTICLE     III. 

The  right,  title,  interest,  and  claim  of 
all  property,  whether  consisting  in  lots  of 
ground,  meeting- houses,  legacies,  bequests 
or  donations  of  any  kind,  obtained  by 
purchase  or  otherwise,  by  any  person  or 
persons,  for  the  use,  benefit,  and  behoof  of 
the  church  of  tlie  United  Brethren  in  Christ, 
is  Iiereby  fully  recognized  and  held  to  be 
the  property  of  the  Cliurch  aforesaid. 

ARTICLE    IV. 

There  shall  be  no  alteration  of  the  fore- 
going Constitution,  unless  by  request  of 
two-tliirds  of  thewliole  society. 

May,  19,  18-11. 


DISCIPLINE.  15 

SECTION  m. 
GENERAL    CONFERENCE. 

Questio7i  1.  Who  are  the  members  of  tlie 
General  ConlereDce? 

\iO^Se6  Constitution. 

Qiics.  2.  How  are  they  to  be  elected  ? 

Ans.  1.  It  shall  be  the  diit}^  of  each 
Anmial  Conference  to  appoint  a  committee 
of  three,  to  receive  and  count  the  votes,  and 
immediately  apprise  those  who  may  have 
been  elected ;  also  to  furnish  each  preacher 
in  charge  with  a  list  of  the  names  of  all 
the  Elders  eligible. 

2.  The  preacher  in  charge  shall  furnish 
each  class -leader,  or  steward,  in  his  charge 
with  a  copy  of  the  above  named  list,  at 
least  ten  months  before  the  sitting  of  Gen- 
eral Conference,  and  the  election  shall  be 
held  invariably  within  the  first  ten  days  of 
November,  next  preceding  the  sitting  of 
said  Conference. 

3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  class-leader 
or  steward,  to  appoint  a  meeting  of  the 
members  of  his  class,  for  the  purpose  of 
electing,  by  ballot  or  otherwise,  their  dele- 
gates to  represent  them  in  General  Confer- 
ence. Should  any  be  incapacitated  by  afiiic- 
tion  or  age  to  attend  such  meetings,  they 
may  send  their  ballots,  containing  the  names 
of  the  candidates  of  their  choice,  and  their 


16  UNITED   BRETHREN 

own  names  si2:ned  on  the  back  of  their  ballots. 

4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  class-leader 
or  steward,  to  sign,  enclose,  and  seal  each 
bill  of  election,  and  keep  a  correct  copy  of 
the  same,  stating  what  class  and  circuit, 
and  immediately  transmit  it  (prepaid)  to 
the  committee  appointed  by  the  Annual 
Conference. 

5.  Said  committee  shall  make  out  a  list 
of  all  the  persons  voted  for,  and  of  the 
number  of  votes  for  each.  And  should  any 
two  or  more  of  the  candidates  have  an 
equal  number  of  votes,  the  committee  shall 
determine,  by  lot,  who  of  them  is  elected. 
They  shall  also  forward  by  the  first  of  Jan- 
uary, the  names  of  those  elected,  to  the 
Conference  Printing  Establishment  for  pub- 
lication ;  and  if  one  or  more  of  tliose  elected 
should  be  prevented,  by  death,  sickness,  or 
otherwise,  from  attending,  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  tellers  to  notify  the  next  highest 
on  the  bill  to  take  his  place,  and  so  descend, 
if  need  be,  to  the  last  candidate.  All  bills 
of  election  received  by  the  tellers  after  the 
first  of  January  shall  not  be  counted. 

Ques.  3.  Wiiat  shall  be  the  number  of 
delegates  to  the  General  Conference? 

Ans.  Three  from  each  Annual  Confer- 
ence district. 

Ques.  4.  How^  shall  the  expenses  of  the 
delegates  to  the  General  Conference  be  de- 
frayed?   * 


DISCIPLINE.  17 

Ans.  The  preacher  in  charge  shall  lift  a 
collection  on  his  first  round  after  the  elec- 
tion, at  each  class,  and  immediately  trans- 
mit the  money  thus  collected  to  the  tellers, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  convey  it  to  the 
delegates  elected.  Should  any  preacher 
neglect  his  duty,  he  shall  be  accountable 
therefor  to  the  next  Annual  Conference. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  General  Con- 
ference to  examine  the  administration  of 
each  Annual  Conference,  whether  it  has 
strictly  observed  the  rules  and  preserved  the 
moral  and  doctrinal  principles  of  the  dis- 
cipline in  all  its  transactions. 

In  the  election  of  all  officers  of  the  Gen- 
eral Conference,  a  majority  of  all  the  votes 
shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice. 


SECTION   IV. 
ANNUAL  CONFERENCE. 

Ques.  1.  Who  are  the  members  of  this 
Conference  ? 

An8.  All  the  Elders  and  licentiate  preach- 
ers who  have  been  duly  received  by  the 
Conference. 

Ques.  2.  In  what  manner  are  the  trans- 
actions of  a  Conference  to  be  conducted  ? 

Ans.  1.  A  portion  of  Scripture  shall  be 
read  ;  also  singing  and  prayer  each  day,  at 
the  opening  and  at  the  closing  of  Conference. 


18  UNITED  BRETHREN 

3.  The  Conference  shall  elect  two  Secre- 
taries—  one  German  and  one  English, 
wherever  it  may  be  necessary.  And  when 
but  one  Bishop  is  present,  the  Conference 
shall  elect  a  chairman  by  ballot  to  act  in 
conjunction  with  the  Bishop.  If  no  Bishop 
should  be  present,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
Annual  Conference  to  elect  a  Bishop  ^r<9 
tem^  whose  official  acts  shall  be  valid. 

3.  The  preachers  shall  be  examined  res- 
pecting their  deportment  towards  their  fel- 
low-beings, whether  their  conduct  in  life  be 
blameless^  and  whether  they  employ  as 
much  time  as  practicable  to  promote  the 
kingdom  of  God  ;  according  to  Titus,  1st 
chap.,  7th  to  9th  verse,  and  2nd  Tim.,  2ud 
chap.,  15th  verse ;  and  shall  be  admonish- 
ed or  advised  as  the  case  may  require.  But 
should  all  admonition  or  advice  fail  in  any 
case,  then  the  name  of  the  delinquent  per- 
son shall  be  erased  from  the  minutes  of  the 
Conference. 

4.  Should  any  member  of  the  Annual 
Conference  absent  himself  from  the  session 
of  conference  three  years  in  succession, 
"without  giving  a  satisfactory  reason  for  so 
doing,  his  name  may  be  erased  from  the 
minutes  of  the  Conference. 

5.  No  preacher  shall  be  permitted  to 
electioneer  favorably  to  his  own  election  to 
any  office  or  delegation  in  the  church,  and 
should  any  be  found  doing  so,  he  shall  be 


DISCIPLINE.  19 

accountable  to  the  next  Annual  Conference 
of  which  he  is  a  member,  to  be  dealt  with 
according  to  the  judgment  of  said  Confer- 
ence. 

The  following  questions  shall  then  be 
asked  : 

J .  Have  any  of  the  preachers  died  during 
the  last  year  ? 

2.  Who  are  the  candidates  for  the  min- 
istry ? 

3.  Are  any  to  be  ordained  to  the  oflSce 
of  Elder? 

4.  What  has  been  collected  for  contin- 
gent expenses  and  the  salary  of  traveling 
preachers  ? 

5.  "What  has  been  done  for  missions'? 

6.  What  has  been  done  for  Sabbath 
schools  ? 

7.  Has  reckoning  been  made  with  the 
^veling  preachers  ? 

8.  Have  they  received  their  dues^J 

9.  Who  are  the  Presiding  Elders  ? 

10.  Where  are  the  preachers  stationed 
this  year  ? 

11.  Where  shall  our  next  Conference  be 
held? 

12.  Is  there  any  thing  else  to  be  done  ? 

13.  Is  all  that  has  been  done  entered  up- 
on record? 


20  UNITED    BRETHREN 

SECTION    V. 
RECEPTIOIS^  OF  PREACHERS. 

Ques.  1.  How  are  preachers  received? 

Ans.  Every  person  proposed  as  a  preach- 
er, shall  be  examined  by  the  Conference,  or 
a  select  committee ;  and  the  following  ques- 
tions shall  be  put  to  them,  viz : 

Have  you  known  God  in  Christ  Jesus  to 
be  a  sin  pardoning  God? 

Have  you  now  peace  with  God,  and  is  the 
love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  your  heart  by 
the  Holy  Spirit? 

Do  you  follow  after  holiness? 

Do  you  believe  the  Bible  to  be  the  word 
of  God  ;  and  that  therein  is  contained  the 
only  true  w^ay  to  our  salvation  ? 

What  foundation  have  you  for  that  belief? 

What  is  your  motive  for  desiring  permis- 
sion to  preach  the  gospel  ? 

Do  you  believe  that  man.  abstract  of  the 
grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  is  fallen 
from  original  righteousness,  and  is  not  only 
entirely  destitute  of  holiness,  but  is  inclined 
to  evil,  and  only  evil,  and  that  continually; 
and  that  except  a  man  be  born  again  he 
cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God  ? 

What  is  your  knowledge  of  faith,  of  re- 
pentance, justification,  sanctification,  and 
of  redemption? 

Does  your  own  salvation,  and  the  salva- 


DISCIPLINE.  21 

tion  of  your  fellow  mortals,  lie  nearer  to 
your  heart  than  all  other  things  in  the 
world  ? 

Can  you  subject  yourself  to  the  counsel 
of  your  brethren? 

Are  you  satisfied  with  our  church  gov- 
ern uieut  ? 

AVill  you  be  obedient,  and  ready  to  speak 
or  hold  your  peace,  as  your  brethren  may 
think  expedient  ? 

Are  you  willing  as  much  as  in  your 
power,  to  assist  in  upholding  the  itinerant 
plan,  and  supporting  the  same  as  much  as 
possible? 

I^one  can  be  admitted  without  having 
a  recommendation  from  the  Quarterly  Con- 
ference, and  then  only  to  be  received  on 
probation;  but  if  Conlerence  should,  on  ex- 
amination, find  that  his  abilities  are  insufii- 
cient  to  preach  the  gospel,  it  muy  refer  him 
back  to  the  Quarterly  Conference  for 
further  instruction. 

When  a  preacher  or  elder  is  expelled 
from  one  Annual  Conference,  he  shall  not 
be  received  into  another,  without  the  con- 
sent of  the  Conference  from  which  he  was 
expelled. 

A  preacher  removing  fi'om  one  Confer- 
ence to  another,  shall,  when  he  applies  to 
another  for  admission,  pro;lnce  a  transfer 
from  the  Conference  to  which  he  formerly 
belonged,  signed  by  the  presiding  ofiicer. 


22  UNITED    BRETHREN 

SECTION  VI. 

COURSE  OF  READmG  AND  STUDY 

For  Licentiate  preachers,  upon  which 
they  shall  be  examined  by  the  several 
Annual  Conferences  to  which  they   belong. 

FIRST    YEAR — BIBLE    DOCTRINE. 

Human  Depravity ;  the  Atonement;  Ee- 
demption;  Repentance ;  Justitication  by 
Faith;  Regeneration;  Adoption;  the  Witness 
of  the  Spirit;  Christian  Perfection;  Possi- 
bility of  final  Apostacy. 

Books.— Bible;  darkens  Theology;  Fletch- 
er's Appeal ;  Philosophy  of  the  plan  of  Sal- 
vation ;  Upham's  Life  of  Faith ;  Bullion's, 
or  some  other  approved  Grannnar;  ]\litch- 
el's,  or  some  other  approved  Geography — an 
Essay. 

SECOND    YEAR — BIBLE    DOCTRINE. 

Existence  and  Attributes  of  God  ;  Trin- 
ity;  Divinity  and  Humanity  of  Clmst;  Per- 
sonality and  Deity  of  the  Holy  Gliost;  Im- 
mortality of  the  Soul ;  Resurrection  of  the 
Body;  Future  General  Judgment;  Eternal 
Eewards  and  Punishments. 


DISCIPLINE.  2$ 

Books. — Bible;  Watson's  Institutes -But- 
ler's Analogy;  Upham's  Interior  Life;  JDick's 
Future  State  ;  Luther  Lee  on  ttie  Immortal- 
ity of  the  Soul;  English  Grammar  con- 
tinued— an  Essay. 

THIRD  THAR — BIBLE   INSTITUTIONS. 

The  Christian  Sabbath ;  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per ;  Christian  Baptism. 

Books. — Bible;  Watson's  Institutes  contin- 
ued; Lowel  Lectures;  Upham's  Divine  Union; 
Ruter's  Gregory ;  History  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church  ;  Ty tier's  General  History; 
and  Coleman's  Geograpliical  History  of  the 
Bible — an  Essay. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  the  student  is 
earnestly  ad  vised  to  read  as  many  of  the  fol- 
lowing works  as  possible,  upon  which,  how- 
ever, he  shall  not  bo  examhied : 

Fowell  on  xlpostolieal  Succession;  Fletch- 
er's Checks  ;  Wesley's  Sermons  ;  Prideaux's 
Connections;  Hunter's  Sacred  Biography; 
Upham's  Mental  Fhilosophy ;  Wayland's 
Moral  Science  ;  Dymond's  Essay  on  Moral- 
ity ;  Parker's  Logic  ;  Whateley's  Bhetoric; 
Comstock's  Natural  Pliilosophy ;  Clarke's 
Mental  Discipline. 


24  UNITED   BRETHREN 

GERMAN  COURSE  OF  READING. 
FIRST   YEAR. 

Bible;  Discipline;  Fletcher's  Appeal; 
Buchner's  Concordance  ;  Nelson  on  Infidel- 
it}^  ;  Plain  Thoughts  on  Secret  Societies ; 
Harr  on  Justification ;  Heyse's  Grammar — a 
written  Essay. 

SECOND    YEAR. 

Bible  Doctrine ;  Discipline  and  Gram- 
mar continued ;  Buck's  Theological  Dic- 
tionary ;  D'Aubigne  on  Kelbrmation ;  Sel- 
ler on  the  Soul ;  Josephus ;  Walter's  His- 
tory of  the  World  ;  Philosophy  of  the  Plan 
of  Salvation — written  Essay. 

THIRD   YEAR. 

Bible  Doctrine;  Discipline  and  Gram- 
mar continued  ;  Evidences  of  Christianity  ; 
Kurtz's  Sacred  History ;  Hufiinan's  Bible 
Dictionary  ;  Lisco's  Apostolic  Creed — writ- 
ten Essay. 

The  following  works  to  be  read : 

Wurst's  Practical  Grammar;  Arnold's 
First  Love;  Bengers  Gnomen;  Commenta- 
ry; Calvert's  History  of  the  Church;  Ei\b 


DISCIPLINE.  25 

man's  First  Christian  Church  ;  Gossner  on 
the  New  Testament. 


SECTION  VII. 

ORGANIZATION   OF    THE   ITINERANCY    AND 
THE  MANNER  OF  SUSTAINING  IT. 

Question.  Who  are  the  Itinerants? 

Answer  1.  All  who  propose  themselves 
without  reserve,  after  having  traveled  one 
year  under  the  direction  of  tlie  stationing 
committee  or  Presiding  Elder,  and  have 
heen  received,  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of 
the  members  of  Conference,  shall  be  con- 
sidered itinerants  from  year  to  year,  and 
may  be  employed  under  the  direction  of 
the  General  or  Annual  Conferences. 

2.  The  Bishop  and  Presiding  Elders  of 
the  past  and  present  year,  together  with  an 
equal  number  of  Local  Elders  or  preachers, 
elected  by  the  Annual  Conference,  shall 
constitute  a  stationing  committee,  whose 
duty  it  shall  be  to  supply  all  the  circuits, 
stations,  and  missions,  as  far  as  practicable, 
from  the  above  list. 

Provided^  however,  tliat  if  any  of  the 
preachers  thus  stationed,  or  any  who  may 
not  receive  an  appointment,  aixi  dissatisfied 
they  shall  have  a  right  to  appeal  to  the 
Annual  Conference,  if  two-thirds  grant  tho 


as  UNITED   BRETHREN 

appeal ;  the  decision  of  which  shall  be  L.  ' 
and  the  report  of  said  stationing  cOt  - 
mittee  shall  be  read  at  least  six  hoiin 
before  the  adjournment  of  Conference. 

3.  Should  there  not  be  enough  Itinerants 
to  fill  all  the  circuits,  stations,  and  missions, 
such  vacancies,  shall  be  supplied  by  the 
Presiding  Elders. 

Ques.  2.  What  shall  be  done  for  the  sup- 
port of  itinerants  ? 

Ans.  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
quarterly  conference,  at  its  first  session  in 
each  year,  to  make  out  an  estimate  of  the 
regular  expenses  of  the  circuit,  station,  or 
mission,  and  apportion  the  same  among  the 
difiereut  appointments,  according  to  their 
several  abilities. 

Provided^  however,  should  any  Annual 
Conference  think  proper,  it  may  adopt  any 
other  measure. 

2.  Each  class,  after  receiving  its  appor- 
tionment, shall,  as  soon  as  convenient,  on 
the  call  of  the  leader,  hold  a  meeting,  and 
appoint  a  committee  whose  duty  it  shall 
be  to  make  a  dividend  of  their  apportion- 
ment to  each  member  thereof,  according  to 
his  or  her   ability,  to    be  paid    quarterly. 

Provided,  however,  that  it  shall  be  the 
privilege  of  any  class  to  collect  the  amount 
apportioned  to  it  by  subscription  or  other- 
wise. 


DISCIPLINE.  27 

Q'U4i^.  3.  How  shall  the  presiding  Elders 
be  elected  ? 

Ans.  The  Annual  Conference  shall  elect 
them  by  ballot.  A  majority  of  the  whole 
number  of  votes  shall  be  necessary  to  a 
choice. 

Ques.  4.  \Yhat  shall  be  done  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  presiding  Elders  ? 

A71S.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  An- 
nual Conference  to  make  such  regulations 
for  the  support  of  the  presiding  Elders  as 
they  in  their  wisdom  may  think  best  calcu- 
lated to  accomplish  the  desired  end. 

Ques,  5.  How  shall  they  be  stationed  ? 

Ans.  By  the  Bishop  and  one  Elder  from 
each  presiding  Elder  district. 

Ques.  6.  How  sliall  the  Bishops'  fields  of 
labor  be  assigned  them  \ 

Ans.  By  the  General  Conference,  and  in 
the  fields  thus  assigned  them  they  shall 
devote  their  whole  time : 

Provided,  however,  that  the\^  shall  have 
the  privilege  of  making  interchano-es  when 
circumstances  make  it  necessary  ;  the  same 
not  being  inconsistent  with  the  wishes  of 
the  respective  Annual  Conferences. 

Ques.  7.  How  shall  their  support  be 
secured  ? 

Ans.  1.  Each  Annual  Conference  shall 
apportion  its  respective  part  of  the  salary, 
&;c.,  of  its   Bishop,  annually, to  the  several 


28  UNITED    BRETHREN 

respective  fields  of  labor  in  its  bounds,  ac- 
cordin,^  to  the  ability  thereof. 

2.  liie  Bishops  shall  publish  annually  in 
the  columns  of  the  Religious  Telescope, 
reports  of  their  respective  districts,  and 
also  the  amount  of  salary,  &c.,  received 
from  the  several  Annual  Conferences  in 
their  charge. 

Ques.  8.  What  shall  be  done  to  regulate 
the  Annual  Conferences  in  the  division  of 
circuits  or  stations  ? 

Ans.  A  circuit  or  station  shall  not  con- 
sist in  any  specific  number  of  members  or 
appointments,  but  when  the  Annual  Con- 
ference thinks  it  able  to  support  a  minister, 
it  may  be  recognized  as  such. 

Tf  If  any  who  are  received  as  above 
stated,  shall  cease  to  travel  without  giving 
satisfliction  to  the  Conference  of" which  he 
is  a  member,  he  shall  not  bo  entitled  to  any 
support  from  the  funds  belonging  to  said 
Conference.  And  furthermore,  he  shall  not 
re-enter  the  itinerancy  without  the  consent 
of  at  least  two-thirds  of  the  Conference. 
Yet  supernumerary  and  superannuated  re- 
lations shall  be  duly  recognized,  as  in 
accordance  Vv'ith  this  section,  and  may  be 
secured  to  any  brother  having  just  claims 
thereto,  by  a  vote  of  Conference. 

Should  a  traveling  preacher  or  Eldei 
desire  to  leave  the  v;ork  assigned  him,  ho 
must  first  acquaint  the  presiding   Elder   of 


DISCIPLINE.  29 

his  intention,  by  writing ;  and  should  any 
one  leave  or  neglect  his  station,  except  it 
be  through  sickness  or  other  unavoidable 
circumstances,  he  shall  be  accountable  to 
the  next  Annual  Conference. 

SECTION    vin. 

CONSTITUTION   OF  THE  MISSIONARY 
SOCIETY. 


ana  is 

organized  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the 
Animal  Conferences  in  extending  their 
niissiouarv  labors  throughout  the  country, 
and  into  Foreign  and  Heathen  lands. 

II.  The  payment  of  one  dollar  shall  con- 
stitute a  member  for  one  year— of  ten 
dollars  at  one  time  a  life  member — of  fifty 
dollars  at  one  time  a  life  director. 

III.  Tlie  officers  of  this  societv  shall 
consist  of  a  President,  three  Yice-rresidents, 
Secretary,  Treasurer,  and  six  Managers, 
Avho,  together,  shall  constitute  a  Board  of 
Directors ;  and  shall  be  elected  every  four 
years  by  the  General  Conference. 

lY.  The  President  shall  preside  at  all 
meetings  of  the  Board,  and  shall  have 
power,  in  conjunction  with  the  Secretary,  to 
call  special  meetings.     In  the  absence  of  the 


30  UNITED    BRETHREN 

President,  one  of  the  Yice-Fresideiits  shall 
fill  his  place. 

Y.  The  Secretaiy  shall  keep  a  coiTect 
record  of  all  the  proceedings  of  the  society 
— conduct  its  correspondence,  and,  at  the 
discretion  of  the  Board,  devote  himself 
exclusively  to  the  interests  of  the  Society. 
He  Rhall  keep  a  record  of  all  the  life  mem- 
bers, life  directors,  legacies,  etc.,  etc.  He 
shall  also  make  out,  and  publish  under  the 
direction  of  the  Board,  an  annual  report  of 
the  whole  missionary  work ;  also  a  quad- 
renial  report  to  the  General  Conference. 
His  salaiy  shall  be  determioed  by  the 
Board,  according  to  the  discipline. 

YI.  The  Treasurer  sL.  ill  [-.old  the  funds 
of  the  society  subject  l>  i,'  order  of  the 
Board. 

YH.  The  Board  of  Dir.^ctors  shall  hold 
annual  meetings,  and  shall  have  authority 
to  make  by-laws  to  regulate  its  own  pro- 
ceedings—  to  appropriate  money  to  defray 
incidental  expenses — to  employ  missiona- 
ries and  agents — to  open  new  fields,  and  to 
publish  at  our  own  press  such  matter  as  the 
necessities  of  the  cause  may  demand. 

YIII.  Each  missionary  in  the  employ  of 
the  Board  shall  report  quarterly  to  the  Sec- 
retary the  condition  of  his  mission. 

IX.  Each  conference  shall  be  considered 
a  branch  of  this  society,  and  shall  elect  a 
conference    Treasurer    and    Secretary.     1. 


DISCIPLINE.  31 

The  branch  Treasurer  shall  hold  the  funds 
desio-ned  for  the  Board  subject  to  its  order. 
2.^  The  brancli  Secretary  shall  keep  a  record 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  annual  conference 
in  relation  to  Home,  Frontier,  and  Foreign 
missions,  separately,  and  report  the  same 
within  one  month  after  the  session  of  the 
conference  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Board. 
He  shall  also  record  the  names  of  the  mem- 
bers, life  members,  and  life  directors,  and 
shall  transmit  the  names  of  life  members  and 
life  directors  to  the  Secretary  of  tlie  Board. 

X.  The  branch  societies,  or  individual 
members,  may  specify  to  what  particular 
portion  of  the  work  their  funds  shall  be  ap- 
plied; provided,  however,  that  if  more  is 
thus  designated  than  is  necessary  for  the 
work  specified,  it  may  be  applied  to  some 
other  work  as  the  Board  shall  determine. 

XL  Each  branch  society  shall  have  the 
exclusive  management  of  the  Home  mis- 
sions within  its  own  limits. 

XII.  Treasurers  of  the  parent  Board  and 
of  the  branch  societies,  shall  give  approved 
security. 

XIII.  All  bequests  or  donations,  the  in- 
terest of  which  is  to  go  to  missionary  pur- 
poses, made  to  any  of  the  above  societies, 
shall  be  kept  sacred. 

Form  of  Bequest  :  I  give  and  bequeath  to 
the  Home,  Frontier,  and  Foreign  Mission- 
ary Society  of  the  United  Br^Tcj.  "n  in  Christ- . 


32  UNITED   BRETHREN 

organized  by  the  General  Conference  of  said 
cliurch,  May  20,  1853,  and  incorporated  in 
Butler  county,   Ohio,  September  23,  1854, 

the  sum  of dollars,  and  the  receipt  of 

the  Treasurer  of  the  Society,  shall  be  a  suf- 
ficient discharge  thereof  to  my  executors 
and  administrators. 


SECTION   IX. 
QUARTERLY    CONFEREIfCE. 

Ques.  1 .  Who  are  the  members  of  the 
Quarterly  Conference  ? 

Ans.  All  the  properl}^  recognized  preach- 
ers, exhorters,  leaders,  stewards,  and  trus- 
tees of  meeting  and  parsonage  houses,  who 
reside  within  the  bounds  of  the  circuit  or 
station. 

Ques.  2.  What  is  the  business  of  the 
Quarterly  Conference? 

A71S.  1.  In  the  absence  of  the  presiding 
Elder,  the  Quarterly  Conference  shall  elect 
a  presiding  Elder  pro  tem.^  whose  official 
acts  shall  be  valid. 

2.  To  elect  a  secretary,  whose  duty  it 
shall  be  to  keep  a  correct  record  of  all  their 
proceedings,  in  a  book  provided  for  that 
purpose,  in  which  the  names  of  all  the 
members,  composing  the  said  conference, 
shall  be  entered. 


DISCIPLINE,  33 

3.  To  make  a  general,  or,  if  necessary, 
particular  inquiry  into  the  moral  deport- 
ment and  oflBcial  diameter  of  all  its  mem- 
bers. 

4.  To  receive  and  try  all  appeals,  refer- 
ences and  complaints,  that  may  come  reg- 
ularly before  it;  but  no  member  of  Quar- 
terly Conference  can  be  suspended,  or  ex- 
pelled prior  to  a  committee  trial. 

5.  To  grant  license  to  exhort  or  preach 
to  such  as  may  have  been  recommended  by 
at  least  two-thirds  of  the  class  (in  each  case 
a  recommendation  must  be  obtained)  of 
which  they  may  be  members ;  provided, 
however,  that  none  shall  receive  license 
who  cannot  give  satisfactory  evidence  of 
their  call,  experience,  soundness  in  doctrine, 
and  attachment  to  our  church  and  govern- 
ment. 

6.  To  make  settlement  with  the  stewards 
and  traveling  preachers. 

7.  To  renew  the  license  of  exhorters,  and 
Quarterly  Conference  licensed  preachers, 
annually,  if  they  be  found  worthy. 

8.  After  such  licentiate  preachers  have 
stood  in  that  capacity  one  or  more  years, 
the  Quarterly  Conference  may  recommend 
them  to  the  Annual  Conference. 

9.  All  preachers  recommended  to  the 
Annual  Conference,  and  not  received,  may 
sustain  their  former  relation. 

3 


S4  UNITED   BRETHREN 

^  Ques.  3.  How  are  preachers  from  other 
societies  received  ? 

A718.  If  they  come  to  us  with  certificates 
of  good  BtandiDg  in  the  society  in  which 
they  have  had  membership,  and  give  satis- 
faction to  the  Quarterly  Conference  on  ex- 
amination on  the  doctrine,  discipline,  gov- 
ernment and  usages  of  our  church,  then 
Quarterly  Conference  may  license  them,wilh 
the  understanding  that  the  Quarterly  Con- 
ference relation  continue  for  at  least  one 
year;  after  which,  if  their  conduct  and  doc- 
trine be  in  accordance  with  the  Gospel  of 
Christ,  they  may  be  received  into  the  An- 
nual Conference  as  preachers,  or  elders,  as 
the  case  may  be. 

Ques.  4.  What  directions  are  necessaiy 
in  case  of  appeals  ? 

Ans.  Any  exhorter  or  preacher,  dissatis- 
fied with  the  decision  of  a  Quarterly  Con- 
ference, shall,  within  thirty  days  after  the 
Quarterly  Conference,  notify  the  secretary, 
in  writing,  of  his  intention  to  appeal,  to- 
gether with  his  reasons  for  so  doing;  and 
it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary  to  take 
or  send  a  certified  copy  of  the  proceedings, 
the  notification  and  reasons  assigned,  to  the 
Annual  Conference. 

Qius.  5.  Where  shall  our  next  Quarterly 
Conference  be  held? 

Ques  5.  Is  there  any  thing  more  to  bo 
done  ? 


DISCIPLINE.  35 

It  shall  also  be  the  duty  of  the  Quarterly 
Confereuce  to  open  and  close  by  siDgiug 
and  prayer. 

SECTION    X. 
OFFICIAL  MEETINGS  FOR  STATION'S. 

Ques.  1.  Who  are  the  members  of  the  of- 
ficial meetiDg? 

Ans,  1.  All  the  properly  recognized 
members  of  the  Quarterly  Conference. 

2.  The  preacher  in  charge  shall  be  the 
president  of  the  meeting,  and  in  his  absence, 
one  of  the  members  shall  be  elected  presi- 
dent ^r6>  tern, 

Ques.  2.  What  is  the  business  of  the  of- 
ficial meeting? 

Aiis.  1.  The  president  shall  call  the  meet- 
ing to  order,  and  begin  and  conclude  with 
prayer. 

2.  To  elect  a  secretary  who  shall  make  a 
record  of  all  the  proceedings  of  the  meet- 
ing. 

3.  To  receive  a  statement  from  each  class 
leader  in  reference  to  the  prosperity  of  reli- 
gion in  his  class. 

4.  To  receive  all  monies  from  the  stew- 
ards that  have  been  collected  since  the  last 
meeting  for  the  preacher  in  charge,  or 
preachers,  and  pay  over  the  same. 

5.  This  body  shall  meet  once  eacli  moutli, 


3G  UNITED    BRETHREN 

and   may    meet    oftener    if  circumstances 
require. 

6.  It  shall  be  tlie  dut}^  of  tlie  official 
meeting  to  receive  all  reports  of  subscrip- 
tions, and  monies  collected  and  disbursed 
for  the  interost  of  tlio  station  ;  and  all 
persons  entrusted  witli  subscriptions  or 
monies  shall  report  Ihe  same  to  the  meeting 
as  soon  as  possible. 

7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  official 
meeting  to  submit  its  doings  to  the  Quar- 
terly Conference  for  examination  and  ap- 
proval. 


SECTION   XI. 
MEMBERS  m  GEI^'ERAL. 

Ques.  How  shall  members  be  taken  into 
our  society? 

Ans.  "VVhen  at  any  meeting  a  person 
makes  known  a  design  to  become  a  member 
of  our  society,  then  the  preacher  present 
shall  put  to  him  or  her,  the  following 
question : 

''Have  you  experienced  the  pardon  of 
your  sins,  and  are  you  determined  by  the 
grace  of  God  to  save  your  soul  ? " 

If  the  person  answer  the  question  in  the 
affirmative,  and  no  objections  be  made  by 
any  member,  on  account  of  his  or  her  im- 


DISCIPLINE.  37 

moral  conduct,  then  the  preacher  shall  give 
his  right  hand  to  such,  as  a  member  of  our 
society,  and  record  his  o-r  ner  name  on  the 
church' or  class-ljook;  but  so  long  as  any 
person  cannot  answer  the  above  question 
in  the  affirmative,  such  person  sliall  not  be 
considered  in  full  membership,  and  shall 
have  no  vote  in  the  society,  but  shall  be 
recognized  as  a  seeker,  under  tlie  watch-care 
of  the  society. 

If  any  person  thus  received  under  the 
watch-care  of  the  church,  shall  cease  to 
manifest  a  desire  to  seek  the  Lord,  the 
preacher  in  chai'ge,  by  the  consent  of  the 
class,  can,  at  any  time,  publicly  drop  the 
name  of  such  seeker. 

Every  member  of  this  society  shall  ac- 
knowledge and  confess  that  he  believes  the 
Bible  to  be,  and  contain  the  holy  word  of 
God  ;  that  he  will  henceibrth  strive  with 
all  his  heart,  to  seek  his  etermil  welfare  in 
Christ  Jesus;  and  work  out  his  salvation 
with  fear  and  trembling,  to  the  end  that  he 
may  be  enabled  to  jJee  from  the  wrath  to 
come. 

Every  member  shall  endeavor  to  lead  a 
good  life,  be  diligent  in  prayer,  particularly 
in  private,  and  for  his  own  edification,  to  be 
present  at  and  attend  when  practicable,  all 
of  our  meetings  for  worship. 

Heads  of  families  should  never  omit  to 
pray  with  their  families,  morning  and  even- 


B8  UNITED   BRETHREN 

ing,  and  set  them  a  good  example  in  all 
the  Christian  virtues. 

Every  one  should  strive  to  walk  as  in  the 
presence  of  God ;  also,  accustom  himself  to 
a  close  communion  with  God  in  all  his 
employments,  and  never  speak  evil  of  his 
fellow  beings,  but  practice  love  towards 
friend  and  foe  ;  do  goc»d  to  the  poor,  and 
endeavor  to  be  a  follower  of  Jesus  Christ 
indeed. 

Every  one  shall  keep  the  Sabbath  day 
holy,  as  required  in  the  Word  of  God ;  nei- 
ther buy  nor  sell,  but  spend  the  same  in  ex- 
ercise of  devotion,  in  reading  and  hearing 
the  word  of  God,  and  with  singing  spiritual 
hymns  to  the  honor  and  glory  of  God. 

It  is  the  duty  of  every  member  to  lead  a 
quiet,  peaceable  and  godly  life  among  men, 
as  it  becomes  a  Christian  to  live  in  peace, 
and  be  subject  to  the  higher  or  ruling  pov/- 
ers,  as  the  word  ot*  God  requires. 

It  is  the  duty  of  every  member  of  the 
church  to  pay  toward  the  support  of  the 
itinerant  ministry,  quarterly,  or  oftener  if 
need  be,  in  proportion  to  his  or  her  ability, 
as  God  has  prospered  them ;  for  the  Lord 
hath  ordained  that  they  which  preach  the 
Gospel  shall  live  of  the  Gospel :  1st  Cor. 
9th  chap.,  14th  verse.     1st  Tim.,  5,  18. 

Each  member  of  our  society  should  wil- 
lingly and  freely  contribute  quarterly,  if 
need  be,  as  God  has  prospered  him  or  her, 


DISCIPLINE.  39 

Ist  Cor.  16,  2,  to  the  support  of  the  helpless 
poor. 

When  it  is  known  by  any  of  our  class 
leaders,  that  there  are  poor  members  among 
them,  who  by  sickness,  accident,  or  oth- 
er unavoidable  circumstances,  have  been 
brought  to  want,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
leader  in  charge,  to  go,  or  appoint  one  to 
wait  upon  the  class,  to  ask  alms,  money, 
clothing,  or  produce,  as  the  circumstances 
may  require ;  and  should  any  one  class  be 
too  poor  to  alleviate  its  poor,  it  shall  then 
be  made  known  to  the  preacher  in  charge, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  inform  the  dilQer- 
ent  classes  on  his  circuit,  and  if  it  should  so 
happen  that  any  one  circuit  should  be  insuffi- 
cient to  meet  the  wants  of  its  poor,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  presiding  Elder  to  pre- 
sent tiie  matter  on  the  different  circuits  at 
their  Quarterly  Conferences,  so  that  the  un- 
avoidably poor  of  our  church  may  be  con- 
sidered and  provided  for.  1  John,  iii:  17 
Ps.  xli:   1,  2. 

The  foregoing  rules  are  drawn  up  for 
the  better  regulation  of  our  society;  and 
we  believe  they  are  founded  in  tlie  word  of 
God,  and  incumbent  on  all  who  are  mem- 
bers of  our  church  to  observe.  Should  any 
violate  or  habitually  neglect  these  rules, 
they  shall  be,  by  their  respective  class- 
leaders,    admonished  to   reformation ;  and 


40  UNITED   BRETHREN 

should  they  not  reform,  they  &hall  ha  sus. 
pended  or  expelled  as  the  case  may  require. 

Inasmuch  as  the  Lord  has  commanded  us 
not  to  be  conformed  to  this  world,  (Rom. 
12 :  2,)  to  lay  apart  all  lilthiness,  and 
superfluity  of  naughtiness,  (  James  1 :  21,  ) 
and  as  the  principles  of  the  Christian  reli- 
gion, as  taught  both  by  the  precepts  and 
example  of  the  meek  and  adorable  Savior, 
are  in  strict  and  perfect  accordance  with 
these  commandments: 

We  therefore  humbly  beseech  aud  ad- 
monish the  members  of  our  church,  both 
male  and  female,  to  observe  these  divine 
precepts,  especially  in  the  wearing  of  gold 
and  jewels,  which  is  forbidden  expressly 
in  the  word  of  God,  and  also  in  the  wearing 
of  artificials,  and  buying,  and  making,  anci 
wearing  of  apparel,  and  the  cutting  and 
wearing  of  the  hair — most  kspecially  our 
viinUters  and  tltelr  families^  they  being 
ensamples  to  the  flock. 

It  is  the  advice  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence, that  all  districts,  stations,  circuits  and 
missions,  cheerfully  receive  the  preachers 
appointed  by  the  stationing  committee  of 
the  respective  Annual  Conferences. 


DISCIPLINE.  41 

SECTION  XII. 
CLASSES. 

1.  xV  class  shall  consist  of  three  or  more 
members,  wIm)  shall  annually  elect  one 
member  from  their  own  or  some  other  class, 
who  shall  be  called  their  leader. 

2.  Classes  shall  be  divided,  or  new  ones 
formed,  by  a  committee  consisting  of  the 
preacher  in  charge,  and  one  or  more  breth- 
ren, elected  by  the  church  or  class  at  any 
place,  where  the  church  or  class  may  deem 
it  necessary  and  proper  that  such  a  meas- 
ure should-  be  taken. 

Ques.    What  is  the  duty  of  a  leader? 

Ans.  1.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  meet  his 
class,  in  class  or  prayer  meeting,  at  least 
once  a  week,  to  speak  to  them  concerning 
the  spiritual  welfare  of  their  souls,  and  ex- 
hort them  to  unity  and  love.  He  shall 
extend  the  freedom  of  our  prayer  and  class- 
meetings  to  all  sincere  and  well  disposed 
persons  who  may  desire  to  attend  them. 

2.  Every  class  shall  annually  elect  (or  if 
the  class  prefer  it,  the  preacher  may  ap- 
point)  one  who  shall  be  called  class- 
steward. 

Ques.  What  is  the  duty  of  a  steward? 

Ans.  1.  He  shall  collect  quarterly  con- 
tributions,   or   oftener    than    quarterly,  if 


42  UNITED   BRETHREN 

needed,  for  the  support  of  the  traveling 
preachers  ;  keep  an  accurate  account  thereof, 
and  return  the  same  to  each  Quarterly  Con- 
ference. 

2.  He  shall  be  accountable  to  the  Quar- 
terly Conference  for  the  faithful  discharge 
of  his  duties  as  steward  of  his  class. 

3.  It  shall  also  be  his  duty  to  provide  the 
elements  for  Sacrament. 

Ques.  What  are  the  duties  of  exliorters? 

A71S.  To  make  appointments  wherever  it 
is  acceptable  to  the  people ;  read  portions 
of  sacred  Scripture,  exhorting  therefrom; 
exhorting  saints,  that  they  with  purpose  of 
heart  should  cleave  to  the  Lord,  and  sinners 
to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come ;  and  this 
they  shall  do  as  often  as  practicable. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  in  case  of  im- 
moral conduct? 

Ans.  The  class  shall  appoint  one  or  more 
to  visit  the  ofiending  brother  or  member, 
and,  if  possible,  reclaim  him ;  but  if  un- 
successful, he  or  she  shall  be  tried  by  the 
class  to  which  they  belong,  or  a  select 
number  thereof  chosen  by  the  parties  con- 
cerned, with  the  preacher  in  charge  of 
the  circuit,  or  station,  who  shall  be  chair- 
man, and  if  found  guilty,  the  accused  shall 
be  expelled,  unless  satisfaction  be  given  by 
an  expression  of  repentance  or  otherwise. 
But,  should  any  member  be  dissatisfied 
with  the  decision,  an  appeal  may  bo  iiad 


DISCIPLINE.  43 

to  the  Quarterly  CorfereDce,  by  giving 
notice  thereof  to  the  preacher  in  charge. 
In  such  case  liowever,  the  same  persons 
shall  not  sit  in  judgment  on  the  same  case. 
Yet,  cases  mav  liappen,  where  it  would  be 
expedient  to  choose  a  committee  from  any 
other  class,  or  classes,  than  the  one  to  which 
the  parties  belong;  also  an  elder  may  be 
chosen  as  chairman,  should  the  preacher  in 
charge  deem  it  best  to  do  so. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  when  mem- 
bers trespass  against  each  other? 

Ans.  "If  thy  brother  shall  trespass  against 
thee,  go  and  tell  him  his  fault  between  him 
and  thee  alone;  if  be  shall  hear  thee,  thou 
hast  gained  thy  brother  ;  but  if  he  will  not 
hear  thee,  then  take  with  thee  one  or  two 
more;  and  if  he  shall  neglect  to  hear  them, 
tell  it  unto  the  church;  but  if  he  neglect  to 
hear  the  church,  let  him  be  unto  thee  as  a 
heathen  man  and  a  publican." 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  in  case  of  dis- 
putes between  members  or  preachers  ? 

Ans.  The  preacher  to  whom  it  shall  be 
known,  shall  inquire  into  tlie  circumstances 
of  the  case,  and  shall  recommend  to  the 
contending  parties  a  reference,  consisting  of 
one  arbiter,  chosen  by  the  plaintifl',  and  an- 
other by  the  defendant,  and  a  third  by  these 
two ;  then  these  three  are  to  decide. 

But,  if  either  be  dissatisiied  with  the  de- 
cision, such  may  have  a  right  to  an  appeal 


44  UNITED   BRETHREN 

to  the  next  Quarterly  ConfereDce  for  a  sec- 
ond arbitration,  where  each  party  shall 
choose  two  arbiters,  and  the  four  shall 
choose  a  fifth ;  a  decision  of  the  majority 
of  whom  shall  be  final.  Any  person  re- 
fusing to  abide  by  this  decision,  and  every 
member  refusing,  in  case  of  debt  or  dispute, 
to  refer  the  matter  to  arbitration  when  re- 
commended to  him  by  a  preaclier  or  leader; 
or  who  shall  enter  into  a  lawsuit  with  an- 
other member  before  these  measures  are 
taken,  shall  be  expelled ;  except  when  the 
case  is  of  such  a  nature  as  to  require  and 
justify  a  process  at  law,  as  executors  or  ad- 
ministrators, or  when  a  member  is  in  dan- 
ger of  suffering  an  unexpected  loss  of  pro- 
perty. 

Every  class  leader  shall  ke2p  a  record  of 
the  proceedings  of  church  trials,  deaths,  ex- 
pulsions and  removals,  in  a  book  provided 
for  that  purpose  ;  and  it  shall  be  his  duty 
in  case  of  an  appeal,  to  send  his  record  to 
the  Quarterly  Conference. 

Any  person  wishing  to  obtain  license  to 
exhort  or  preach,  must  obtain  from  the  class 
of  which  he  is  a  member,  by  a  vote  of  two- 
thirds  of  the  members,  a  recommendation 
in  writing,  signed  by  the  leader,  to  the 
Quarterly  Conference  of  the  circuit,  station, 
or  mission  to  which  he  belongs. 


DISCIPLINE.  45 

SECTION  XIII. 
PREACHERS'  DUTIES. 

Qiies.  What  are  the.  duties  of  preachers  ? 

Ans.  To  preach  Christ  crucified  when- 
ever they  can  <j[et  hearers ;  to  form  classes ; 
to  converse  with  the  members  on  the  spirit- 
ual condition  of  their  souls;  to  administer 
relief;  to  strengthen  and  direct  those  that 
are  afflicted  and  labor  under  temptations ; 
to  animate  the  indolent ;  to  endeavor  as 
much  as  possible  to  edify  and  instruct  all  in 
faith,  in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge  of  Je- 
sus Christ ;  to  visit  the  sick  on  all  occasions; 
to  strive  to  enforce  and  confirm  the  doc- 
trines they  deliver  by  a  well  ordered  and 
exemplary  life. 

Ques.  What  are  the  directions  given  to 
our  preachers  ? 

Ans.  1.  Be  diligent.  Kerer  trifle  away 
your  time ;  alwavs  be  serious.  Let  your 
motto  be,  "IIOLIIS^ESS  UNTO  THE 
LOED!"  Avoid  all  lightness  and  jest- 
ing ;  converse  sparingly  ;  conduct  yourself 
prudently  with  women  ;  and  demean  your- 
self in  all  respects  as  a  true  Christian. 

Be  at  all  times  averse  to  crediting  evil 
reports  ;  believe  evil  of  no  one  without  good 
evidence.  Put  the  best  construction  on 
every  thing. 

2.  Speak  evil  of  no  one.     Whatever  may 


46  UNITED    BRETHREN 

be  jonr  thonglits,  keep  them  within   you 
own  breast  until   you  can  tell   tlie  persoi 
concerned   what   yon   think   wrong  in  hi.s 
conduct. 

3.  Let  your  business  be  to  save  as  many 
souls  as  possible.  To  this  employment  give 
yourself  up  wholly.  Yisit  those  vrho  need 
it ;  and  act  in  all  things,  not  according  to 
your  own  wills,  but  as  sons  in  the  gospel. 
For  as  such  it  becomes  your  duty  to  employ 
your  time  in  tlie  manner  prescribed,  in 
preaching  and  visiting  from  house  to  house, 
in  instruction  and  prayer,  and  in  meditating 
on  the  VN^ord  of  God.  With  these  be  occu- 
pied until  our  Lord  cometh. 

Ko  preacher  shall  arbitrarily  form  a  mis- 
eion  or  circuit  witlun  the  embrac  ol'  any 
circuit  or  presiding  Elder's  district. 


SECTION    XIV. 
CIRCUIT  PREACHERS'   DUTIES. 

Ques.  What  are  the  duties  of  a  circuit 
preacher  ? 

Ans.  1.  To  take  the  circuit  assigned  him 
willingly. 

2.  To  attend  the  appointments  on  his  cir- 
cuit regularly  ;  preach  to  the  people;  and 
liold  society  meetings. 

3.  The  preacher  in  c])arge  is  to  see  tliat 


DISCIPLrNE.  47 

there  are  suitable  persons  elected  in  each 
class  as  stewards,  and  leader  or  leaders,  at 
the  close  of  the  conterci>ce  year. 

4.  To  read  the  following  thre-e  sections 
of  our  discipline  every  six  months,  in  each 
class,  viz : —  The  Confession  of  Faith — of 
Members  in  General — Classes. 

5.  To  sit  as  president  on  the  trial  of 
membei*s,  and  see  that  a  correct  account  of 
the  same  is  kept, 

6.  To  render  a  strict  account  of  the  con- 
dition of  his  circuit  to  each  Quarterly  Con- 
ference, where  he  is  to  be  held  accountable 
for  the  neglect  of  any  regular  appointment 
on  his  circuit. 

7.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  use  every  laud- 
able effort  to  circulate  our  books  and  church 
periodicals  ;  collect  funds  due  the  Telescope 
Office,  and  use  due  diligence  to  advance 
the  interests  of  the  Conference  Printing 
Establishment. 

8.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  keep  a  list  of 
the  names  of  all  the  subscribei-s  to  our 
church  periodicals,  and  the  time  of  sub- 
scribing, at  the  different  appointments  on 
his  circuit,  and  hand  it  over  to  his  succes- 
sor at  the  Annual  Conference,  with  the  list 
of  the  appointments. 

9.  No  preacher  shall  dismiss  any  appoint- 
ment from  his  circuit,  without  the  consent 
of  Quarterly  Conference. 

10.  To  make  out  a  list  of  all  the  appoint- 


48  UNITED   BEETHREN. 

ments  on  his  circuit,  and  present  it  to  the 
Presiding  Elder  at  each  Annual  Conference, 
for  the  convenience  of  his  successor. 

11.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  preachers  in 
charge  of  circuits,  stations  and  missions,  to 
collect  the  annual  amount  apportioned  to 
their  fields  of  labor  for  the  support  of  the 
Bishops. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  stationed 
preachers  to  visit  eYevy  family  under  their 
care,  at  least  once  every  quarter,  and  pay 
strict  attention  to  the  young  members  of 
their  charge. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  circuit  preachers 
to  visit  as  much  as  possible. 

Besolved^  that  each  preacher,  whether 
local  or  itinerant,  make  use  of  every  laud- 
able effort  to  eidarge  the  borders  of  our 
Zion,  in  spreading  scriptural  holiness,  and 
report  to  their  respective  Annual  Confer- 
ences the  number  of  new  appointments  ob- 
tained. 

SECTION   XV. 
ELECTIOlf  OF  ELDERS. 

Ques.  How  is  an  Elder  constituted  ? 

Ans.  After  a  probation  of  three  years,  a 
preacher  may  be  presented  to  the  yearly 
conference  for  consideration;  whereupon 
the  Bishop  shall  propose  to  Conference  the 
following  questions ; 


DISCIPLINE.  49 

Ques.  1.  Is  he  blameless  touchiDg  the 
marriage  state  ? 

2.  Is  liis  deportment  in  the  social  circle 
marked  with  watchful  sobriety  ? 

3.  Is  he  hospitable  towards  the  afflicted 
and  needy  ? 

4.  Is  he  faithful  in  the  public  ministra- 
tion of  God's  word  ? 

6.  Is  his  household  subject  to  rules  of 
piety  ? 

Should  the  above  questions  be  answered 
in  the  affirmative,  a  committee  of  three  or 
five  elders  shall  be  appointed,  before  whom 
the  candidate  shall  appear,  and  speak  un- 
interruptedly in  answer  to  the  following 
questions,  viz: 

Ques.  1.  Upon  what  foundation  do  you 
believe  the  Bible  to  be  the  word  of  God? 

2.  How  do  you  prove  the  tall  of  man  by 
transgression  ? 

3.  How  do  you  prove  the  redemption  of 
man  by  Jesus  Christ  ? 

4.  Do  you  believe  in  the  God -head  of  Je- 
sus Christ? 

5.  What  foundation  have  you  for  such  a 
belief? 

6.  Do  you  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost  as 
presented  in  our  Confession  of  Faith  ? 

7.  Upon  what  evidence  do  you  believe 
this? 

8.  Do  you  believe  in  future,  everlasting 
punishment  ? 


50  UNITED   BRETHREN 

It  shall  be  the  privilege  of  the  committee 
in  the  close,  to  propose  any  question  touch- 
ing the  answers  given,  wherein  then-  under- 
standing  may  not  have  been  distinct.  It 
shall  also  be  their  duty  to  make  out,  sign. 
and  deliver  to  Conference  a  report  of  each 
case  which  may  have  been  before  them. 
Whereupon,  by  a  majority  of  the  votes  of 
the  Elders  of  Conference,  said  candidates 
maybe  elected  to  ordination.  All  ordained 
elders  of  other  denominations,  who  may 
join  our  church  as  such,  must  pass  the 
above  examination,  but  they  may  be  exempt 
from  the  laying  on  of  hands.  Yet  circum- 
stances demanding  it,  a  licentiate  may  be 
presented  to  Conference  for  ordination,  a1 
any  time  prior  to  a  probation  of  three  years, 
provided  two-thirds  of  the  Elders  present 
vote  for  the  same. 


SECTION    XVI. 
ORDINATIOI^r  OF  ELDERS. 

I.  On  the  day  appointed  there  shall  be 
a  suitable  sermon  or  exhortation  delivered. 

II.  After  their  names  have  been  read 
aloud,  the  Bishop  or  Elder  shall  read  the 
following  articles  to  all  who  may  be  chosen 
for  ordination  : 

"An  Elder  must  be  blameless  as  the 


DISCIPLINE.  51 

steward  of  God,  not  self-willed,  not  soon 
angrj,  not  given  to  wine ;  no  striker,  not 
given  to  filthy  lucre;  but  a  lover  of  hospi- 
tality, a  lover  of  good  men;  sober,  just, 
holy,  temperate  ;  holding  fast  the  faithful 
word  as  he  hath  been  taught,  that  he  may 
be  able,  by  sound  doctrine,  both  to  exhort 
and  convince  the  gainsayers.  "  —  Tit.  i : 
7-9. 

Ques.  Do  you  trust  that  you  are  inward- 
ly moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost  to  take  upon 
you  the  office  of  the  ministry,  to  serve  God 
in  the  Church  of  Christ  to  the  honor  and 
glory  of  his  holy  name  ? 

Ans.  I  trust  1  am. 

Ques.  Do  you  believe  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, Old  and  iS^ew  Testament  ? 

Ans.   I  do  believe  them. 

Ques.  Will  you  apply  dne  dilligence  to 
frame  and  fashion  your  life  according  to  the 
doctrines  of  Christ ;  and  to  make  yourself 
as  much  as  in  you  lieth,  a  wholesome  ex- 
ample of  the  flock  of  Christ  ? 

Ans.  I  will,  the  Lord  being  my  helper. 

Ques.  Will  you  obey  them  to  whom  the 
charge  and  government  over  yon  is  com 
mitted,  and  follow  their  godly  admonitions 
wdth  a  willing  and  ready  mind  ? 

Ans.  I  will  endeavor  through  the  grace 
of  God  to  do  so. 

Then  prayer  is  to  he  offered. 

After  prayer,   the  Bishop   and    Elders 


52  UNITED    BRETHREN 

shall  lay  their  hands  upon  the  heads  of  ev- 
ery one  of  them,  and  say :] 

"Take  thou  autliority  to  execute  tiieoftice 
of  an  Elder  in  the  church  of  God,  in  the 
name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of 
the  Holy  Ghost :  Amen." 

[Hereupon  the  Bishop  or  Ekler  shall  de- 
liver to  every  one  of  them  tlie  Holy  Bible, 
saying :] 

"Take  thou  authority  to  read  and  preacli 
the  word  of  God,  and  administer  the  ordi- 
nances in  the  church  of  Christ." 

[Then  the  Bishop  or  Elder  shall  pray. 
And  after  prayer  he  shall  read  from  Luke 
xii:  35-38.]  ''Let  your  loins  be  girded 
about,  and  your  lights  burning,  and  ye 
yourselves  like  unto  men  that  wait  for  their 
Lord,  when  he  shall  return  from  the  wed- 
ding; that,  when  he  cometh  and  knocketh, 
they  may  open  unto  him  immediately. 
Blessed  are  those  servants  whom  the  Lord 
when  he  cometh,  shall  find  watching.  Ver- 
ily 1  say  unto  you,  that  he  shall  gird  him- 
self, and  make  them  sit  down  to  meat,  and 
will  come  forth  and  serve  them.  And  if  he 
shall  come  in  the  second  watch,  or  come  in 
the  third  watch,  and  find  tlieni  so,  blessed 
are  those  servants."  [xVfter  this,  the  follow- 
ing benediction  is  to  be  pronounced :] 

The  peace  of  God  l:eej)  your  hearts  and 
minds  in  the  knoioledge  of  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord.    Amen. 


DISCIPLINE.  58 

SECTION   XVII. 

ELDERS'  DUTIES. 

It  is  the  duty  of  an  Elder  to  preach  as 
often  as  he  can;  to  baptize,  to  administer 
the  Lord's  Supper,  solemnize  marriages,  to 
perform  all  parts  of  divine  service,  to  be 
an  example  to  the  flock  of  Christ,  by  imita- 
ting his  moral  example  ;  and  in  a  very 
special  manner  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  an 
Elier  to  cherish  and  encourage  young  min- 
isters, and  always  to  be  looking  for  those 
whom  God  has  called  to  preach,  and  ad 
vise  them  to  take  up  the  cross,  and  begin 
the  work  without  delay,  that  tlie  labor  of 
this  gospel  harvest  may  be  faithfully  per- 
formed. 


SF.CTION  xviir. 
PRESIDmG  ELDERS. 

Ques.  What  are  the  duties  of  a  presiding 
Elder? 

Ana.  1.  To  travel  through  the  district 
appointed  him,  and  to  preach  as  often  as  is 
practicable. 

2.  lie  shall  appoint  the  quarterly  and 
camp-meetings,  and  att*  nl  them.     He  shall 


54  UNITED    ERSTHREN 

hold  quarterly  conferences,  with  the  preach- 
ers, exhorters,  leaders,  stewards,  and  trus- 
tees, and  administer  the  ordinances  of  God's 
house.  He  shall  inquire  and  examine 
whether  the  preachers  do  their  duty,  preach 
every  Sabbath  ;  and  exhort  them  to  main- 
tain discipline  and  order,  love  and.  serioys- 
ness  in  the  society. 

3.  He  may  also  in  conjunction  with  two 
elders,  preachers,  exhorters,  or  leaders, 
[one  from  each  circuit]  change  the  preachers 
in  his  district. 

4.  Should  any  district  happen  to  be  with- 
out a  presiding  Elder,  information  shall  be 
immediately  given  to  a  Bishop  who  shall 
appoint  an  Elder  to  preside  in  said  district 
until  the  ensuing:  Annual  Conference. 


SECTION    XIX. 
BISHOPS— ELECTION  AND  DUTIES. 

Ques.  How  are  the  Bishops  to  be  elected  ? 

Ans.  The  General  Conference  shall  elect 
them  for  the  term  of  four  years,  by  a  ma- 
jority of  the  whole  number  of  votes,  to  be 
at  the  option  of  conference  re-elected.  The 
Bishops  must  be  capable  of  attending  the 
conferences  appointed  them,  otlierwise  they 
cannot  be  elected. 

Qties.  What  arc  tiie  duties  of  Bishops  ? 


DISGIPLINE.  55 

Ans.  1.  To  preside  over  the  Annnal  and 
General  Conferences. 

2.  In  conjunction  with  the  presidiDg 
Elders  of  the  past  and  present  year,  together 
with  an  equal  number  of  elders  or  preach- 
ers, they  may  fix  the  appointments  of  the 
traveling  preachers  for  the  several  circuits, 
stations,  and  missions:  Provided,  that  they 
do  not  allow  any  itinerant  preacher  to  re- 
main on  the  same  station  or  circuit  more 
than  three  consecutive  years,  unless  partic- 
ular circumstances  require  it,  and  then 
only  with  consent  of  the  Conference. 

3.  The  Bishop,  in  conjunction  with  one 
Elder  from  each  presiding  Elder  district, 
elected  by  the  conference,  shall  appoint 
the  presiding  Elders  to  tlieir  respective 
districts. 

4.  Jt  is  incumbent  on  tliem  to  perform 
the  rite  of  ordination. 

5.  When  a  Bishop  neglects  his  duty,  un- 
less through  unavoidable  circumstances,  he 
cannot   be  sufierod  to  retain  his  ofiice. 

6.  If  our  church  should  at  any  time  be 
destitute  of  a  Bishop,  a  Bishop  2?ro  tern. 
shall  be  elected  from  among  the  Elders  at 
each  Annual  Conference.  Each  Bishop ^ro 
tern,  shall  attend  the  next  succeeding  Con- 
ference, in  conjunction  with  the  Bishop 
^ro  2f67n.  there  elected;  that  a  regular  cor- 
respondence be  maintained  until  the  ensuing 
General  Conference.  • 


&&  UNITED   BRETHREN 

7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Bishops 
to  see  that  a  suitable  sermon  be  delivered 
to  the  preachers  present  at  each  Annual 
Conference. 


SECTION    XX. 
IMMORAL  CONDTJCT  OF  PREACHERS. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  when  an 
Elder  or  Preacher  is  reported  guilty  of 
immorality  ? 

Ans.  When  an  Elder  or  Preacher  is 
charged  with  immoral  conduct,  the  preach- 
er to  whom  it  is  known,  shall  take  with 
him  another  preacher,  exhorter,  or  leader, 
and  examine  into  the  charge ;  but  as  the 
apostle  saith,  1  Timothy,  5th  chap.,  19th 
verse,  ''receive  not  an  accusation  against 
an  Elder,  but  before  two  or  three  witnesses.'' 
Should  it  appear  he  is  justly  accused,  no- 
tice thereof  shall  be  given  him,  and  a  time 
and  place  appointed  where  the  accuser  and 
the  accused  shall  meet.  Then  three  Elders, 
or  one  Elder  and  two  Preachers  shall  try 
his  case,  which  are  to  be  appointed  by  the 
parties  concerned,  each  party  appointing 
one,  and  the  two  a  third ;  should  they  be 
satisfied  that  the  accusation  is  sustained, 
then  the  accused  shall  hold  his  peace  until 
the  Annual  Conference,  where  he  shall  bo 


DISCIPLINE.  57 

iiccoiintablo.  If  the  accused  refuse  to 
choose  his  committee-man  ^Yhell  properly 
notified,  lie  shall  l^e  referred  to  the  annual 
or  quarterly  conference,  where  his  case  shall 
be  considered.  But  if  the  Elder  be  a  Bish- 
op, he  shall  be  tried  by  the  Annual  Confer- 
ence within  whose  bounds  the  cause  of  ac- 
cusation occurred.  But  should  sufficient 
satisfactiou  be  given  by  an  expression  of  re- 
pentance, or  otherwise,  he  may  be  retained. 
But  should  the  accused  Preacher,  Elder,  or 
Bishop,  refuse  to  attend,  after  having  been 
notified  of  the  time  and  place  of  trial,  ho 
shall  be  suspended ;  and  the  committee 
shall  notify  him  to  appear  at  the  next  Quar- 
terly or  Annual  Conference  to  answer  to  the 
charges  preferred  against  him  ;  and  if  he 
fail  to  attend  (unavoidable  circumstances 
excepted),  he  shall  be  suspended,  or  expel- 
led, as  the  Conference  may  think  proper. 

Also,  if  the  accused  preacher  or  elder  bo 
a  member  of  the  Annual  Conference,  in  that 
case  the  presiding  Elder  of  the  district  upon 
which  such  accused  preacher  or  elder  lives, 
or  of  the  adjoining  one,  shall  act  as  chair- 
man on  the  trial — if  he  be  a  member  of  the 
quarterly  conference,  in  that  case  the 
preacher  in  charge  of  the  circuit  upon 
which  he  lives,  or  the  next  nearest,  shall 
sit  as  chairman  in  trying  the  offence. 


58  UNITED   BRETHREN 

SECTION   XXI. 
PREACHERS'  SALARIES. 

1 .  The  annual  allowance  of  a  traveling 
Bishop  or  Preacher,  if  he  has  no  family, 
shall  be  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and 
his  traveling  expenses  ;  if  he  has  a  family, 
it  shall  be  three  hundred  dollars,  his  travel- 
ing expenses  and  house  rent. 

2.  When  an  itinerant  preacher  is  so  cir- 
cumstanced as  to  the  place  and  expense  of 
living  that  the  above  provision  will  not 
meet  his  necessary  wants  ; — if  he  be  a  Bish- 
op, it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  General  Con- 
ference to  grant  him  such  an  allowance,  ad- 
ditional to  that  above  stated,  as  in  its 
judgment  will  suppW  his  wants ; — if  he  be 
a  presiding  Elder,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  Annual  Conference  to  grant  allowance 
to  him,  as  in  the  case  of  the  General  Con- 
ference to  the  Bishop  ; — if  he  be  a  circuit  or 
stationed  Breacher,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  Quarterly  Conference  to  grant  to  him 
allowance  additional  to  the  above  provi- 
sions ; — if  he  be  a  Missionary,  employed  by 
an  Annual  Conference,  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  Annual  Conference  to  grant  such  al- 
lowance to  the  provision,  as  above  stated; — 
if  he  be  a  Missionary  employed  by  the 
Board  of  Missions,  the  Board  shall  grant 


DISCIPLINE.  59 

such  allowance  additional  to  the  salary  and 
house  rent  provision,  as  in  its  judgment 
it  shall  see  proper. 

3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  a  circuit  or  sta- 
tion, when  a  preacher  is  sent  to  them  by 
Annual  Conference,  to  move  said  preacher 
on  such  circuit  or  station,  at  their  own  ex- 
pense. 

Qiies.  What  shall  be  done  for  the  needy, 
superannuated,  or  worn  out  traveling 
preachers,  and  their  widows  and  orphans  ? 

Ans.  The  Annual  Conferences  to  which 
they  respectively  belong,  shall  make  provi- 
sion for  them. 


SECTION   XXII. 

MARRIAGE  CEREMONY. 
ADDRESS. 

We  are  gathered  together  in  the  sight  of 
God,  and  in  the  presence  of  these  witnesses, 
to  join  together  iT.  and  M.  as  husband  and 
wife.  If  any  person  present  knows  any  just 
cause  or  impediment  why  these  persons 
should  not  be  joined  in  marriage,  let  the 
same  now  speak  or  forever  after  keep 
silent. 

[If  no  impediment  be  alleged,  then  shall 
the  minister  say  unto  the  man] 

"IS".,  wilt  thou  have  this  woman  to  be  thy 


60  UNITED    BRETHREN 

wedded  wife  to  live  together  after  God's  or- 
dinance ?  Wilt  thou  love,  honor  and  com- 
fort her  in  sickness  and  in  health,  in  pros- 
perity and  adversity;  and  forsaking  all 
others,  keep  thee  only  unto  her  so  long  as 
ye  both  shall  live  ?  If  so,  then  answer,  '  I 
will."' 

[Then  shall  the  minister  say  to  the  wo- 
man :] 

"  M.,  Wilt  thou  have  this  man  to  be  thy 
wedded  husband,  to  live  together  after  God's 
ordinance?  AVilt  thou  love,  honor,  and 
obey  him,  in  sickness,  and  in  health,  in 
prosperity  and  adversity  ;  and  forsaking  all 
others,  keep  thee  only  unto  him  so  long  as 
ye  botli  shall  live  ?  If  so,  then  answer,  '  I 
will.'" 

[Then  the  minister  shall  require  them  to 
join  their  right  hands,  and  say  :] 

Those  whom  God  hath  joined  together, 
let  no  man  put  asunder. 

Inasmuch  as  N.  and  M.  have  consented 
together  in  marriage,  and  have  witnessed 
the  same  before  God  and  these  witnesses,  I 
pronounce  them  husband  and  wife,  in  the 
name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and 
of  the  Holy  Ghost : — Amen. 

Ques.  Y^ho  of  our  ministers  are  permit- 
ted to  solemnize  marriage  ? 

Ans.  All  ordained  ministers,  and  also 
those  tliat  have  obtained  license  from  an 
Annual  Conference,  wdiere  tlie  law  of  the 


DISCIPLINE.  61 

State  makes  it  the  privilege  of  every  regu- 
larly liceDsed  minister  to  solemnize  mar- 
riage :  but  none  are  permitted  to  solemnize 
marriage  with  Quakterly  Conference  li- 
cense. 

SECriON    XXIII. 
NECESSITY  OF  UNION  AMONG   OURSELVES. 

Let  US  be  deeply  sensible  (from  what  we 
have  known)  of  the  evil  of  a  division  in 
principle,  spirit  or  practice,  and  of  the 
dreadful  consequences  to  ourselves  and 
others.  If  we  are  united,  what  can  stand 
before  us?  If  we  are  divided,  we  shall  in- 
jure ourselves,  the  work  of  God,  and  the 
souls  of  our  people. 

What  can  be  done  in  order  to  a  closer 
union  with  each  other  ? 

1.  Let  us  be  deeply  convinced  of  the  ab- 
solute necessity  of  it. 

2.  Pray  earnestly  for,  and  speak  trnly 
and  freely  to  each  other. 

•     3.  When  we  meet  let  us  never  part  with 
out  prayer. 

4.  Take  great  care  not  to  despise  each 
other's  gifts. 

5.  Never  speak  lightly  of  each  other. 

6.  Let  us  defend  each  other's  character 
in  every  thing,  so  far  as  is  consistent  with 
truth. 


62  UNITED   BRETHREN 

7.  Labor  in  honor,  each  preferring  an- 
other before  himself. 

8.  We  recommend  a  serious  examination 
of  the  causes,  evils,  and  cures  of  heart  and 
church  divisions. 


SECTION   XXIV. 

yISITII^^G  FEOM  HOUSE  TO  HOUSE   AND  EN- 
FORCING  PIIACTIC2VL   RELIGION. 

Ques.  How  can  we  furtlier  assist  tliose 
Tinder  our  care  ? 

Ans.  ^y  instructing  them  at  their  own 
houses,  which  is  necessary  to  promote  con- 
fidence and  communion  with  God  among 
us,  to  wean  us  from  the  love  of  the  world, 
and  to  inure  us  to  a  life  of  heavenly  mind- 
edness  ;  also  to  encourage  us  to  strive  after 
and  practice  brotherly  love,  that  no  evil 
thinking  or  judging  of  one  another  be  found 
among  us  ;  and  lastly,  that  we  may  learn 
to  do  as  we  would  wish  to  be  done  by. 

2.  Every  preacher  should  make  it  his 
duty  to  mstruct  the  people  on  every  occa- 
sion, both  public  and  private;  and  exhort 
them  to  be  diligent  in  all  good  works  and 
doctrine.  Until  this  be  done,  and  that  in 
sincerity,  we  shall,  upon  the  whole,  be  of 
but  little  use,  and  our  good  shall  be  evil 
spoken  of ;  therefore  wherever  we  may  be, 


DISCIPLINE.  63 

we  shonld  guard  against  useless  and  idle 
conversation. 

Undoubtedly  this  private  application  of 
visiting  from  house  to  house,  and  exhorting 
the  people,  is  found  or  implied  in  these 
solemn  words  of  the  Apostle : 

"I  charge  thee,  therefore,  before  God, 
and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  shall  judge 
the  quick  and  the  dead  at  his  appearing, 
and  his  kingdom  ;  preach  the  word  ;  be  in- 
stant in  season,  out  of  season;  reprove,  re- 
buke, exhort,  with  all  long  suffering  and 
doctrine."— 2  Timothy,  4  :  1,  2. 


SECTION   XXV. 
INSTRUCTION  OF  CHILDREN. 

What  shall  be  done  to  benefit  the  rising 
generation  ? 

Let  him  who  is  any  way  zealous  for  God, 
and  the  souls  of  men,  begin  the  work  im- 
mediately. Wherever  children  are  found, 
meet  them,  as  often  as  possible ;  speak  free- 
ly with  them,  and  instruct  them  diligently ; 
exhort  them  to  be  good,  and  pray  with 
them,  earnestly  yet  simply  and  plainly,  that 
they  may  learn  to  know  their  Creator  and 
Redeemer  in  the  days  of  their  youth. 


64  UNITED   BRETHREN 

SECTION  XXVI. 
SABBATH  SCHOOLS. 

Qucs.  1.  What  shall  be  done  for  the 
cause  of  Sabbath  Schools? 

A71S.  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each 
preacher  in  charge  of  a  Circuit,  Station,  or 
Mission,  to  preach  a  sermon  at  each  ap- 
pointment, on  the  importance  of  Sabbath 
Schools, — setting  forth  tlieir  claims  on  pa- 
rents and  children,  and  the  community  in 
general. 

2.  It  shall  also  be  his  duty  to  use  all 
proper  means  to  organize  a  Sabbath-school 
in  each  society  and  congregation  in  his 
charge,  as  soon  as  practicable. 

3.  Also  to  solicit  funds  (or  see  that  some 
efficient  agent  be  appointed  to  do  so^,  to 
pm'chase  a  suitable  library  for  each  school 
under  his  care. 

Q'ues.  2.  How  shall  we  ascertain  what 
progress  we  are  making  in  this  laudable  en- 
terprise ? 

Ans.  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each 
preacher  in  charge  to  report  to  his  A.  C. 
the  number  of  Sabbath  Schools  organized 
in  his  charge  during  the  year — the  number 
of  scholars  in  attendance  at  each  school, — 
the  number  of  teachei*s  employed  in  each, 
and  the  amount  of  money  collected  for  Sab- 


DISCIPLINE.  65 

bath  School  purposes,  it  shall  also  bo  the 
duty  of  all  our  preachers,  whether  travelini^ 
or  local,  to  use  their  influenco  in  favor  of 
this  important  enterprise. 

2.  We  v.'ould  furthermore  earnestly  r'> 
commend  to  our  Church,  the  importance  of 
co-operation  with  tin  iiiinistry  in  the  great 
work  of  training  up  tl.e  youth  of  our  Church, 
and  country,  in  the  ''way  they  should  go,'" 
— to  Sabbath  School,  to  virtue,  and  to  God. 

3.  Sabbath  Schools  may  become  auxiliary 
to  the  Home,  Frontier  and  Foreign  Mission- 
ary Society,  by  the  election  of  a  Secrx^tary 
and  Treasurer. 

4.  The  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  togethei 
with  the  Superintendant  of  the  school,  shall 
constitute  a  Board  of  Managers,  who  shall 
adopt  such  measures  as  may  be  deemed  by 
them  best  to  foster  and  encourage  the  Mis- 
sionary spirit,  and  the  interasts  of  Missions 
in  the  school. 

5.  A  Sabbath  School  becoming  auxiliary 
to  the  Missionary  Society,  shall  make  week- 
ly collections  for  Missions,  and  Quarterly 
Keports  of  monies  collected,  and  any  other 
matter  of  general  interest  to  the  Correspond- 
ing Secretary. 

6.  The  Treasurer  shall  hold  the  ftmds 
collected,  subject  to  the  order  of  the  Board 
of  Missions,  and  the  Secretary  shall  make 
out  and   forward   the  Ouarterlv  Reports  to 

5  •      " 


[TNTTED    BRETHREN 


the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Boai 
of  Missions. 


SECTION    XXVII. 

DOCTRINAL  PUBLICATIONS. 

ISo  one  of  our  preachers  or  laymen  shall 
become  the  author  oi'  any  doctrinal  book  or 
pamphlet,  in  a  printed  form,  in  the  name 
of  the  Church,  without  the  approbation  of 
the  Annual  Conference,  or  of  a  committee 
chosen  by  the  same.  And  if  any  preacher 
or  layman  violates  this  rule,  he  shall  be  ac- 
countable to  the  class,  or  the  Quarterly  or 
Annual  Conference,  as  the  case  may  be. 


SECTION  XXVIII. 

OATHS. 

We  believe  that  the  mode  of  testifying  to 
the  truth  when  required  so  to  do  in  a  legal 
form,  by  way  of  affirrnation,  is  on  us  sol- 
emnly, conscientiously,  and  fully  binding 
before  God  to  tell  the  truth,  the  whole 
truth,  and  nothing  but  the  tmth. 


DISCIPLINE.  C7 

SECTION   XXIX. 

ARDENT  SPIRITS. 

The  distilling,  vending,  and  use  of  ardent 
spirits  as  a  beverage,  shall  be,  and  is  here- 
by forbidden  throughout  our  society ;  and 
should  any  preacher,  exhorter,  leader,  or 
layman,  be  engaged  in  distilling,  vending, 
or  using  ardent  spirits  as  a  beverage,  he 
shall  be  accountable  to  the  class,  the  Quar- 
terly or  Annual  Conference  to  which  he 
belongs.  If  the  offending  brother  be  an  ex- 
liorter,  leader,  or  layman,  it  shall  be  the 
dut}^  of  the  preacher  in  charge  to  admonish 
him  in  meekness.  If  he  be  a  preacher,  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  presiding  officer 
of  a  Quarterly  or  Annual  Conference  to 
admonish  him  to  desist  from  his  unholy 
employment,  or  habit.  And  if  all  friendly 
admonitions  fail,  such  offending  person  or 
persons  shall  no  longer  be  considered  mem- 
bers of  our  church,  but  shall  be  expelled 
from  the  same;  provided,  however,  that 
this  rule  shall  not  be  so  construed  as  to 
prevent  druggists  and  others,  from  vending 
or  using  it  for  medicinal  or  mechanical 
purposes. 


68  UNITED    BRETHREN 

SHCTION  XXX. 

FREE  MASONRY. 

Free  Masonry,  in  every  sense  of  tho 
word,  shall  bo  prohibited,  and  there  shall 
be  DO  connection  with  secret  combinations 
{a  secret  society  is  one  wJiose  initiatory 
cere7no7\y  or  oond  of  tinion  is  a  secret)^ 
and  any  member  found  connected  with  such 
a  society  shall  be  affectionately  admonished, 
twice,  or  thrice,  by  the  preacher  in  charge  ; 
and  if  such  member  does  not  desist  in  a 
reasonable  time,  he  shall  be  notified  to  ap- 
pear before  the  tribunal  to  which  he  is 
amenable,  and  if  he  still  refuse  to  desist, 
shall  be  expelled  from  the  Church. 


SECTION   XXXI. 
SLAVERY.' 

All  slavery,  in  every  sense  of  the  word, 
is  totally  prohibited,  and  shall  in  no  way 
be  tolerated  in  our  Church.  Should  any  be 
found  in  our  society  who  hold  slaves,  they 
cannot  continue  as  members  unless  they  do 
personally  manumit  or  set  free  such  slaves. 

And  when  it  is  known  to  any  of  our  min- 
isters in  charge  of  a  circuit,  station,  or  mis- 


DISCIPLINE.  69 

sioD,  that  any  of  its  members  hold  a  slave 
or  shives,  lie  shall  admonish  such  members 
to  manumit  such  slave  or  slaves ;  and  if 
such  persons  do  no-t  take  measures  to  carry 
out  the  discipline,  they  shall  be  expelled  by 
the  proper  authorities  of  the  church ;  and 
any  minister  refusing  to  attend  to  the  duties 
above  described,  shall  be  dealt  with  by  the 
authorities  to  v/hich  he  is  amenable. 


SECTION    XXXII. 

WAR. 

Fesolved^  Tb.at  we  believe  the  spirit 
which  leads  men  to  voUrntariiy  engage  in 
national  warfare,  is  unholy  and  anti-chris- 
tian,  and  ousrht  not  to  be  tolerated  bv  us. 


Si:CTI0N    XXXIII. 

RULES  AND  REGULATIONS  OF  OUR  PRINTING 
ESTABLISHMENT,  IN  DAYTON,  OHIO. 

Rule  Isr.  The  above  establishment  shall 
be  called  the  "Printing  Establishment  of 
the  United  Brethren  in'Christ." 

Rule  2d.  The  Legislative  authority  here- 
in granted,  shall  be  vested  in  the  General 
Conference  of  said  Church,  whose  duty  it 


70  UNITED   BRETHREN 

shall  be  to  make  or  amend  any  rules  as  in 
their  judgment  may  seem  expedient. 

Kule  3d.  The  proceeds  of  said  establish- 
ment, over  and  above  contingent  expenses, 
shall  be  applied  to  the  benefit  of  traveling, 
and  worn  out  preachers,  and  their  widows 
and  orphans.  This  division  to  occur  equal- 
ly, and  annually,  among  the  difierent  An- 
nual Conferences. 

Rule  4:th.  A  Board  of  seven  Trustees, 
elected  by  the.  General  Conference,  shall 
take  the  oversight  of  the  establishment. 

Rule  5th.  Should  a  vacancy  occur  in  the 
Editorial  or  Agency  department,  in  such 
case  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Trustees  to 
employ  some  other  suitable  person,  or  per- 
sons, to  fill  said  vacancy  until  the  sitting 
of  the  next  General  Conference. 

Rule  6th.  In  case  a  vacancy  should  occur 
in  the  Board  of  Trustees,  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  Trustees  to  fill  such  vacancy  until 
the  then  ensuing  General  Conference. 

Rule  7th.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  Trustees  to  make  settlement  with  the 
Agent,  or  Agents,  Treasurer,  and  Edit- 
ors, every  six  months;  and  cause  the 
Agent,  or  Agents,  to  make  and  publish  a 
report  annually,  through  the  columns  of 
the  Religious  Telescope  and  Joyful  Messen- 
ger, and  also,  make  a  special  report  to  the 
General  Conference. 

Rule  8th.  The  Editors  shall  strictly  per 


DISCIPLINE.  71 

form  all  the  duties  devolving  upon  them, 
such  as  making  selections  and  examining 
manuscript  designed  for  publication,  wri- 
ting editorial,  reading  proof,  etc. 

Rule  9th.  The  Trustees  shall  have  the 
general  oversight  of  the  Editors  and  Agents, 
and  see  that  they  do  their  duties,  and  if  they 
do  not,  they  may  suspend  them  until  the 
sitting  of  the  next,  or  the  then  ensuing 
General  Conference,  which  will  give  final 
decision.  In  all  cases  the  officers  com- 
plained of  shall  be  furnisiied  with  a  copy 
of  the  complaints  in  writing,  and  shall 
have  an  opportunity  of  being  heard  in  ex- 
planation or  defence  before  the  Board. 

Rule  10th.  The  Trustees,  as  Book  Com- 
mittee, are  authorized  to  examine,  purchase, 
and  publish,  or  republish,  books,  pamphlets, 
and  tracts. 

Rule  11th.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
Agents  to  take  charge  of  the  temporal  con- 
cerns of  the  office,  to  keep  all  the  books 
pertaining  thereunto,  to  furnish  at  the  dis- 
cretion of  the  Trustees  such  material  as  may 
be  needed,  and  to  act  as  the  General  Book 
Agents,  under  the  direction  of  the  Trustees. 

Rule  12th.  The  Trustees  shall  have  the 
privilege  of  making  any  By-laws  which 
may  seem  expedient  to  them,  for  the  better 
regulation  of  the  minor  concerns  of  the 
office,  provided  they  do  not  violate  any 
part  of  the  foregoing  rules. 


UNITSD    ERETilREN 


Rule  vs.  iSFo  Agent  or  Editor  .sliaii  accept 
any  office,  or  engage  in  any  business  which 
will  interfere  with  his  duties  relating  to  the 


Printi]]g  Estabiishmeu! 


6ECTI0K   XXXIV. 

ORDER  TO  BE  OBSERVED  IN  BUILDING 
MEETING-HOUSES. 

Ques,  Is  any  thing  advisable  in  regard 
to  the  building  of  meeting  houses  ? 

Ans.  Let  all  our  Meeting  Koust-s  be  built 
plain  and  neat,  with  free  seats,  and  not 
more  expensive  than  necessary. 

Ques.  To  whom  are  our  Meeting  Houses, 
and  the  premises  belonging  to  them,  to  be 
deeded  ? 

Ans.  To  a  Board  of  Trustees,  and  their 
successors  in  office,  in  trust,  as  the  property 
of  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ. 

Ques.  How  is  the  Board  of  Trustees  to  be 
constituted  ? 

A71S.  Whenever  it  is  contemplated  by  a 
society,  to  purchase  or  build  a  Meeting 
House,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  a  leader  or 
steward  of  such  Society  to  make  it  known 
to  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  the  circuit  or 
station  to  which  he  belongs,  whose  duty  it 
shall  be  to  appoint  a  judicious  Board  of 


DISCIPLINE.  73 

Trustees,  of  not  less  than  three  in  number. 
or  as  the  law  of  the  State  in  which  said 
house  is  to  be  built  may  direct;  provided, 
however,  that  none  be  required  to  serve 
more  than  four  years,  unless  indispensably 
necessary.  IMo  person  shall  be  considered 
eligible  as  a  Trustee  for  any  of  our  Meeting 
Houses  who  is  not  a  regular  member  of  our 
church . 

Qites.  IIow  are  the  Trustees  to  proceed 
in  building  a  house? 

Ans.  iso  Society  shall  commence  the 
building  of  any  Meeting  House,  without 
first  getting  an  act  of  incorporation  where 
the  law  of  the  State  requires  it.  They  shall 
form  an  estimate  of  the  amount  necessary 
to  procure  a  lot,  to  build,  and  to  make  such 
other  improvements  as  may  be  conceived 
necessary.  And  they  shall  at  no  time  pro- 
ceed with  the  building  of  a  house  of  wor- 
ship, beyond  the  means,  either  in  hand,  or 
sufficiently  secui'ed,  so  as  to  avoid  involving 
our  liouses  of  worship  any  way  in  debt ; 
and  also  secure  a  lawful  title  for  the  lot 
upon  which  they  intend  to  build. 

The  Trustees  shall  hold  annual  meetings, 
and  keep  a  fair  and  regular  record  of  the 
transactions  of  their  Board,  in  a  book  pro- 
vided for  that  purpose,  which  shall  at  all 
times  be  open  for  inspection  by  the  Quarter- 
ly Conference  of  said  Circuit  or  Station. 

To  take  charge  of  the  Meeting  House 


74  UNITED   BRETHREN 

property,  furniture,  premises,  burial  gi'ounds. 
&c. 

Qiies.  What  shall  be  done  when  a  va- 
cancy or  vacancies  occur  in  the  Board  of 
Trustees  ? 

A71S.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Quar- 
terly Conference  to  appoint  a  suitable  per- 
son or  persons  to  fill  such  vacancies. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  when  any  of 
our  houses  are  vacant  ? 

Ans.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  a  Quarterly 
Conference,  of  tlie  nearest  circuit,  or  station, 
to  appoint  not  less  than  three  suitable  per- 
sons for  Trustees,  who  shall  have  the  power 
when  authorized  by  two-tliirds  of  the  mem- 
bers of  that  Conference,  to  lease,  rent  or  sell 
Buch  meeting  house,  and  the  appurtenances 
belonging  to  it ;  and  to  appropriate  the  mo- 
ney arising  from  such  lease,  rent,  or  sale,  to 
whatever  purpose  said  Conference  may 
direct. 

The  above  rules  to  be  observed  in  pm-- 
chasing  or  building  parsonage  houses. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  our  Presiding  El- 
ders, as  soon  as  convenient,  to  appoint  or 
Bee  that  three  or  five  suitable  persons  are 
appointed  with  the  consent  of  the  Quarterly 
Conference,  to  take  up  subscriptions  to  build 
or  purchase  parsonage  houses  for  their  res- 
pective Stations  or  Circuits,  the  same  to  be 
deeded  to  those  three  or  five  Trustees,  and 
their  successors  in  office,  for  the  use  of  the 


DISCIPLINE.  Tb 

Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ. 
We  command  that  all  onr  parsonage  houses 
be  plain,  and  located  in  some  central  place. 

Note. — The  Trustees  should  be  careful  in  all  cases 
to  have  deeds  of  conveyance  legally  executed,  and  re- 
corded in  the  county  records  where  the  propeity  is  ; 
that  is,  to  have  the  aeed  made  to  them  and  their  suc- 
cessors in  office,  in  trust,  for  the  Church  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ,  and  to  erect  and  build,  or  cause  to 
be  built,  a  house  of  "worship  for  the  members  of  said 
Church. 


SECTION  XXXV. 
CHARTERS. 

Whereas,  the  laws  of  certain  States  re- 
quire Churches  and  institutions  to  be  incor- 
porated, in  order  to  be  recognized  by  law; 

Therefore,  in  such  cases,  the  Quarterly 
Conference  of  the  respective  circuits,  sta- 
tions, and  missions,  shall  appoint  a  com- 
petent committee,  consisting  of  three — who 
shall  apply  to  the  proper  source,  for  an  Act 
of  Incorporation,  on  all  the  Church  property 
within  the  bounds  of  such  circuits,  stations, 
or  missions,  and  at  the  last  Quarterly  Con- 
ference of  each  year,  the  Presiding  Elder 
shall  examine  said  committee  in  reference 
to  the  above  subject. 

2.  When  legacies  are  bequeathed  to  the 
Church,  the  names  of  the  presiding  Bishops 
should  be  inserted  in  the  will  of  the  Testa- 


76  UNITED    BRETHHEN,  ETO. 

tor,  to  be  niicler  tlie  control  of  said  Bishops 
and  their  successors  in  office,  to  be  appro- 
priated to  the  purpose  specified  bj  the  do- 
nors. 

SECTION   X2:XVI. 

CERTIFICATES. 

When  mennbers  of  our  society  move  from 
one  place  to  anotlier,  they  shall  obtain  a 
certificate,  by  the  vote  of  a  majority  of  the 
class  to  which  they  belong,  signed  by  a 
preacher,  or  leader,  except  where  they  are 
not  in  reach  of  a  class,  in  which  case  any 
of  our  preachers  may  give  a  certificate  to 
such  persons,  if  they  are  known  to  be  in 
good  standing. 


FORM    OF    CERTIFICATE. 

This  is  to  certify  that  A.  B.  is  a  member  of  good 
standing  in  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ,  at 

[Dates,  <S:c.] 

FORM   OF   TRANSFER. 


This  is  to  certify  that is   a  regulai* 


in  the  Church-of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ, 
of  Annual  Conference,  and  is  hereby  transferred 

to  ■  Annual  Conference  of  said  Church. 


INDEX. 

AiJent  spirit? Page  67 

Bishops/Elecliun  and  duties  of, 5-1 

Building  of  Meeting  Houses, 72 

Confession  of  Faith, U> 

Constitution, 12 

Constitution  of  Missionary  Society, 29 

Conference,  General, 15 

"  Annual 17 

Quarterly, 32 

Course  of  reading, 22 

German, 24 

Classes, 41 

Children,  Instruction  of, 63 

Charters, 75 

Certificates, 76 

Doctrinal  Publications, 66 

Elders,  Election  of, 4S 

Duties  of, ; 53 

"         Ordination  of, 50 

Presiding,  53 

Free  JIasonrj, 68 

Itinerancy,  Organization  of, 25 

Immoral  Conduct  of  Preachers, 56 

Members  in  General, 36 

Marriage  Ceremony, 59 

Omcial  Meetings  for  Stations, 35 

Origin  of  the  Church, 3 

Oaths, 60 

Preachers,  Keception  of, 20 

Duties, 45 

•'  (Cir.)  duties, 46 

Printing  Establishment, GO 

Salarieo, 53 

Sabbath  Schools, 64 

Slavery, 6^ 

Union,  necessity  of, 61 

Visiting  from  house  to  house, 62 

War,  .69 


1    1012  00045  6071 


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